Chapter 1

HAZEL

Three long hours had passed, and Ravel was nowhere to be found. I had made countless attempts to reach him, not out of anger or frustration over our abandoned plans for the evening, but rather out of genuine concern for his well-being. It was completely out of character for Ravel to be incommunicado, especially when it came to letting me know if he would be running late or returning home in the wee hours of the night.

Unable to contain my restlessness, I paced anxiously back and forth, the hem of my flowing gown trailing behind me. Sensing my unease, Jane offered her well-intentioned advice. “You really should stop pacing around in that long gown,” she cautioned, her voice laced with genuine concern. “You might end up injuring yourself if you’re not careful.”

Pausing abruptly, I directed an intense glare at Jane, my frustration and worry bubbling to the surface. “Do you honestly believe that my concern right now revolves around the fear of falling?” I retorted, my voice tinged with a mixture of anguish and frustration. Sniffing to stave off the tears threatening to spill, I resumed my restless pacing, unable to find solace in Jane’s attempt to assuage my fears.

“My husband is three hours overdue, Jane,” I emphasized, my voice quivering with worry. “He’s never late, not like this.”

In an attempt to offer some semblance of comfort, Jane muttered softly, her voice laced with uncertainty. “Perhaps he’s just caught up with work,” she ventured, her words lacking conviction. “Nothing has happened to him. We’re talking about Mr. Southwark, nothing will definitely happen to him.”

As if to affirm the truth in Jane’s previous remarks, the entrance door swung open, revealing Ravel’s unexpected presence. Abruptly halting in his tracks, he fixated his gaze upon me, seemingly taken aback by the sight of me standing in the living room, resembling a disheveled panda in distress.

as an uncontrollable s ob wracked through my trembling frame. In an instant, I sprinted towards him, enclosing

but notice that his hands hung limply at his sides instead of enfolding me, and he stood in silence, offering no explanation. Drawing back slightly, I scrutinized him, observing a distant, indifferent

and took a deliberate step back. “We need to talk, Hazel,” he muttered,

“What do we need to talk about?” I asked, my voice filled with a mix of curiosity

responded, his voice deep and resonant. “Would you prefer

the living room. Even though the maids were nowhere to be seen at the moment, their omnipresence

mine, and proceeded to walk past me, ascending the stairs with a deliberate pace. I followed

faced my husband, a knot of worry tightening in my chest. “Rav, what’s happening?” I

fixed on the outside world. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” he began, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty, “but

I asked, my words laced with a genuine desire for understanding. “Things have always been

Chapter 1

warmth. Turning to face me, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, sending a shiver down my spine. “I’ve been doing that for

pounded in my chest, a gripping fear taking hold of me. “What are you trying to say, Rav?” I whispered,

had escaped my notice until now. “I want you to sign these documents,” he said, his tone firm and resolute. “I want to

piercing my heart with its implication. “What’s in there?” I asked, my voice sounding foolish even to my own ears, as I already knew

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