Chapter 8 My Wife

• At that, Hazel turned to Zachary, pointing at Sage. "Her words, not mine."
• Sage and Violet were stunned. This guy actually is Hazel's kept pretty boy?! Good Lord! Sage felt as if she had just been slapped hard across the face.
• Just then, the manager returned with a Victoria sandwich, handing it to Zachary. "C'mon, let's go," he said
• Hazel nodded and followed after him, not forgetting to wave her half-sister goodbye.
• Meanwhile, Sage was wholly dumbfounded. She never expected Hazel to actually keep such a fine, pretty boy.
• "Sage, looks like you really need to call Hazel 'Mommy' now," Violet said dreamily, causing Sage to shoot her a menacing glare.
• At that, Violet chuckled. "Um, I mean, Hazel's pretty boy is really cute. I wonder how much it costs to keep him."
• The fact that Zachary never glanced her way the entire time made the self-assured Sage feel incredibly frustrated and defeated. But Violet's words quickly reminded her—he was just a pretty boy kept by Hazel. Sage could double or even triple the money to make the pretty boy hers. With that idea in mind, Sage became exhilarated again.
• "Excuse me, sir. Please give me my cake. We're leaving," Sage went to get her cake, but the store manager refused her. "Sorry, ladies, I'll refund you and even compensate you double, but I can't give you this cake."
• "Why?" Sage and Violet both froze.
• The manager smiled faintly. "Because this cake is for my dog."
• What?! Sage slammed the table. "What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to insult us?"
• "Is it not obvious?" the manager replied. "You two have offended a big shot. Even if I give this cake to a dog, I wouldn't sell it to you."
• …
• The luxury car parked at Maplewood Manor, and Zachary handed the embossed black card to Hazel, "Take this."
• Hazel blinked, confused as to why he would give her a card. "No, thanks," she said.
• Zachary smirked in response. "You certainly can't afford a pretty boy like me, but you, I can still support, my dear wife."
• "My dear wife… As he mumbled magnetically, Hazel's heart skipped a beat and began racing erratically. At that, she quickly opened the front passenger door and exited the car.
• That man is an incubus! she thought as she carefully put the black card in her bag and entered the living room, where she was greeted by Matilda's beaming smile. "Hazel, you're back. How was your visit to your parents' house?"
• "It was good, Grandma. Let's have cake together."
• "Cake?" Matilda's eyes lit up, and she hurried into the living room, rubbing her hands together. "I love cake!"
• Zachary walked in at this moment. Instead of going to the living room, he went straight upstairs. However, on the stairs, he paused, and his gaze fell on Matilda. "Grandma, you have high blood pressure. Just have a bite of the cake."
• Matilda stuffed another mouthful of cake into her mouth and said earnestly, "I know what I'm doing. I only had a taste; it's really sweet."
• Hazel chuckled at Matilda's antics, then looked up at the man on the stairs. "Do you want some cake?"
• Not a fan of sweets, Zachary said, "No thanks."
• "Oh, okay."
• "The corner of your lips…" Zachary's gaze fell on her face. Because of eating cake, the veil on her face had lifted slightly, revealing her delicate jawline and the half-covered red lips. Her lips were beautiful, cherry-colored. Once, a magazine selected lips that made men want to kiss upon seeing them. She was the epitome. Now, there was a bit of cake stain on her lips.
• With his reminder, Hazel instinctively stuck out her tongue and licked the bit of cream off her lips. As she looked up at him, Zachary swept his gaze over her lips, then raised his hand to adjust the tie of his shirt collar. His Adam's apple bobbed as he ascended the stairs and entered the study.
• Meanwhile, Hazel's fair ears reddened. Zachary's action of adjusting his tie was erotic, as if seducing her with his eyes. She quickly grabbed a piece of tissue and wiped her lips vigorously.
• Just then, Winston brought an elderly man upstairs. Hazel asked, "Grandma, who is that?"
• "Oh, that's Dr. Giuseppe Napoli. He comes here once a month."
• Hazel's heart skipped a beat. Dr. Giuseppe Napoli was a world-renowned hypnosis master, and as a medical student, Hazel had naturally heard of his name. Giuseppe's regular visit was to treat Zachary's sleep disorder, Hazel believed, and it seemed that his sleep disorder was more severe than she had imagined.
• …
• Worried, Hazel went to the study to check on things when an unusual commotion came from inside, startling her. She hurriedly opened the door to find the room in a mess, with documents scattered all over the floor, and Giuseppe's wristwatch shattered.
• Zachary stood before the desk with his two arms, veins bulging, propped against it. His muscular chest heaved like a beast panting.
• Hearing the door open, Zachary looked up. Hazel met his profound, bloodshot eyes tinged with sinister. He was a completely different person now. However, Hazel was no stranger to this man, for she had already seen him last night.
• As their eyes met, Zachary pressed his thin lips tightly together and growled, "Get out!"
• However, Hazel didn't budge.
• Meanwhile, Winston picked up the broken wristwatch, led Giuseppe out, and closed the study door, separating them and Zachary.
• "Dr. Napoli, how is he?" Hazel asked.
• Giuseppe shook his head. "At first, I could hypnotize Mr. Luellen to rest for a day each month, but his mental condition deteriorated too quickly. He is extremely alert and has a strong mental defense. I can no longer hypnotize him."
• Hazel wasn't surprised. Zachary was a mature, reserved man with few outward emotions. Such men were calm and self-controlled, almost pathological. At that, she dropped her eyelids and reached for the door handle, wanting to go in.
• "Ms. Hazel, you mustn't. It's very dangerous for you to go in now. Have you forgotten about last night?" Winston quickly stopped her.
• Hazel's clear and penetrating gaze met Winston's. "Winston, it's precisely because I remember that I must go in. Once sleep disorders develop into mental illnesses, he won't be able to control the dark, irritable, and pathological side of himself. By then, he will split into a second personality, and that second personality will completely take over him."
• Winston's face turned pale.
• Hazel pushed the door open.
• …
• In the study, Zachary locked his brows into an even tighter furrow when he saw Hazel's return. "Get out! Don't make me repeat myself!"
• Hazel stepped forward, a fragmented smile gleaming in her dark eyes. "Mr. Luellen, I'd like to see what will happen if I make you repeat yourself."
• Zachary felt uncomfortable all over, the veins on his temples bulging. His body slowly lost control. Not wanting to hurt her, he grabbed Hazel's slender arm and growled. "Get out!"
• He pushed her, and Hazel faltered, falling onto the carpet and hitting her forehead on the sharp corner of the coffee table. Blood gushed out instantly.
• Hazel groaned in pain, covering the wound with her hand, and the bright blood flowed from between her fingers.