Chapter 2 0002

Hazel's pov

"What?!" I screamed with worry on my mind. "Where are you now?!" I demanded, panic rising in my chest. There was silence from him, the kind that made my stomach twist.

"Still at my place. You should come quickly, please..." he begged, his voice tight with urgency.

I didn't wait for him to say more. I ended the call and rushed toward my jacket, my mind spinning. My child's life could be in danger. I couldn't waste another second.

"Damn it!" I muttered, grabbing my keys and rushing out of the house. I waved down a cab, practically throwing myself into it.

"Where to, ma'am?" The driver asked, his voice calm, but my mind was far from it.

"Mark Street," I gasped, and he nodded, speeding off.

All the while, my thoughts spiraled at several thoughts. what could have happened to Noelle? What kind of danger was she in? I couldn't stop imagining the worst-case scenarios.

Suddenly, the cab stopped with a jolt and I handed the driver the fare without thinking and rushed to Kelvin's apartment.

Getting there, I knocked frantically. And when the door opened, Kelvin stood there, his smile was out of place for the moment. My heart dropped.

"Where's Noelle?" I asked, brow furrowed, trying to read him.

"Oh yeah, Noelle. About that... You need to come with me," he said, his tone a little too light. I hesitated but followed him inside.

That's when she came running toward me, Noelle's small arms wrapping around my legs with a beaming smile.

"Mommy!" she cried, and my heart melted. I was flooded with relief, but the confusion remained.

"How did you–" I stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening as realization hit. She wasn't sick. She'd never been sick. This was all just a plan to get me here.

"But why?" I demanded, frustration bubbling up. He should've known better, especially with the kind of work we both did.

"You needed a break," he said, shrugging casually. "It was supposed to be your day off, but when I noticed you weren't here on time, I knew you'd be working at your apartment. So, I and the kids decided to bring you here by any means necessary, right?" Kelvin looked down at the kids, who nodded with a grin.

I couldn't stay mad at them, not when they both just wanted to be with me. And the kids had been the accomplice in this little scheme, so, this softened my heart.

"So, I guess dinner then?" he asked, gesturing toward the dining room.

My stomach growled at the sight of the food. "Yes... dinner," I said, smiling as the kids pulled me toward the table, and Kelvin laughed, his deep voice filling the room.

"You see what I'm talking about? They miss you so much," he said, his tone warm as he guided me to the chair.

Once seated, he pulled out a chair for me, helping me sit, and I felt a blush creep up my neck. And Noelle, Jason and Peter settled around the table, and Kelvin served me the dish he'd prepared.

"I feel so loved right now," I said, blinking back tears. Kelvin had always been my rock, always knowing how to make me feel special.

"It's alright," he said with a grin. "Let's just eat, and then we'll get to the next surprise."

"Next surprise?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded, leaning in as if to share a secret. "Yeah. That's for when the kids go to bed," he whispered.

Then, after dinner, I helped him clear the dishes while he took the kids to bed, a smirk on his face that only deepened my curiosity about the "surprise."

As I washed the dishes, my mind wandered to Ethan and I couldn't help but wonder what could have been, what could still be. But I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"What are you thinking about?" Kelvin's voice broke through my thoughts as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

"N-nothing..." I forced a smile, glancing over my shoulder at him.

"Are you sure? I know you're worried about something," he said, his voice soft, but I waved it off, shaking my head.

"It's nothing. How about the kids?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.

"Asleep as a rock," he said with a chuckle. "They were really excited to see you. I was too."

"Mmm, I was also happy to see you," I said, my heart fluttering.

He closed the distance between us, his lips brushing against my ear. "I missed you," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin.

I smiled, but there was a knot in my chest that I couldn't shake. He leaned in to kiss me, and before I knew it, I was in his arms, being carried upstairs like I was the most precious thing in the world.

I couldn't help but smile at how he always made me feel like a princess. It reminded me of the first time I met him, when I was running from my past, and he saved me from a speeding car. That moment had changed everything.

When we reached the bedroom, he kicked open the door and continued walking until he gently placed me on the bed, his smirk returning.

"I've missed this. Just me and you, alone..." He paused, his eyes darkening. "In a room, with me..."

I giggled, despite myself. "So this was the second surprise, huh?"

"Yeah," he said, his smile softening. "I've missed you so much. I just want to be with you every day."

I laughed, trying to squirm away, but he held me tighter. "Hey... I just want to be with you today."

"I know," I whispered, my voice barely audible. But there was something in me that felt sad, like I wasn't ready to fully give myself to him. "But I don't want to-"

"I love you," Kelvin said, cutting me off, his fingers gently tracing my chin.

"I know you do, Kelvin. I believe you," I said, trying to reassure him, but the weight of my past still lingered in my chest.

He kissed me again, his lips warm and insistent. I closed my eyes, getting lost in his scent, but when he deepened the kiss, I couldn't help the groan that escaped me.

"Mmm..." I moaned into his lips, and he smirked, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

And when he finally pulled away, both of us began breathing heavily, I couldn't hold back the question anymore.

"So, what's the surprise?" I asked, still trying to piece it all together.

He smiled but didn't answer right away. Instead, he crawled closer, his hands securing my waist as he stared into my eyes.

"I am the surprise," he said, his voice low and full of promise.

I blinked, stunned.

Kelvin and I had been dating for three years now. I hadn't planned on dating him, but how else could I show my gratitude? He loved me, and I loved him too, but sometimes, the pain from my past kept me from fully opening up to him.

"Stop," I whispered when he leaned in to kiss me again. I wasn't ready. Not yet.

"Why?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. "What's the matter? You've always said this, but I'm right here. I love you. We don't need anything else."

I shook my head, my heart aching. "You know what the matter is. You know about my trauma. Please, understand."

"I do understand," he said, his voice softer now. "But I'm not him. I'm not going to hurt you. I want to be with you, to be the man you deserve."

"But we aren't married," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

"So what?" He sighed. "Unmarried couples have sex all the time. It's just something to enjoy..."

I shook my head, tears threatening to spill. "I'm sorry. I can't do this. Not yet. I love you, but I'm not ready."

He looked away, his expression hardening. "You always say this. You're still thinking about him, aren't you? I'm tired, Hazel. I don't know what else to say."

"I wished I met you first, the story could have changed, you would have been mine with three wonderful children."

My heart broke as I called out his name. "Kelvin, wait..."

"What?!" He yelled, his eyes hardened.

"I'm sorry okay? I just can't do this. I love you so much, but–"

"Don't. I don't want to hear it," he replied, grabbing a pillow from the bed, his actions sharp and final.

"W-what are you doing?" I stammered. However, he rolled his eyes.

"Just let me be," he said, his voice cold as he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

So, I sat there, frozen, my heart pounding in my chest.

I didn't want to feel like the bad person, but I couldn't help it. The weight of my past was still too heavy to let go no matter how hard I try.