Finally, I got a day of freedom from that guy! Otherwise, he’s always trying to control me,” she muttered, sinking into the soft cushions of her living room sofa.

She grabbed the remote from the table, her face lighting up with a small smile. “Let’s watch a movie today,” she said to herself, hoping to enjoy some peace.

Opening a tub of ice cream, she began eating spoonfuls while watching the screen flicker with colors. The plot was captivating, and the characters’ emotions felt real.

“How in love he is with her,” she said, her voice soft as she observed the male lead’s actions.

“But why doesn’t she love him back?” she wondered aloud, almost pitying the character. Then, with a slight scoff, she added, “Oh, right. Who would love a stalker?”

She chuckled dryly, shaking her head. The movie was entertaining until the scene shifted. Her smile faded as her eyes widened. The scene before her was all too familiar.

On the screen, the male lead’s jealousy boiled over as the heroine smiled at another man. Unable to control himself, he grabbed her possessively and made her sit on his lap.

The spoon slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor. Her chest tightened as an unwelcome memory forced its way to the surface.

---

Flashback:

“Excuse me,” Hazel said, stepping away from her desk to answer a call.

Before she could take more than a step, Chris grabbed her wrist, pulling her back with enough force that she stumbled. She fell, landing squarely on his lap.

“What the—” she started, but her words were muffled as his hand covered her mouth.

From her phone, the caller’s voice buzzed faintly, “Hello? Hazel? Are you there? What happened?”

Chris grabbed her phone without hesitation, ending the call with a single press.

Her face flushed with anger. “What the hell was that?” she demanded.

His gaze darkened, his voice dripping with possessiveness. “I should be the one asking, Hazel. Why are you smiling like that over a mere phone call?”

“He’s my boss, Chris,” she said firmly, trying to maintain her composure.

“And I’m your boss too. Yet, you don’t smile at me like that.”

Her words were sharp as she fired back, “He earned it, unlike you, who keeps forcing yourself into my life.” She tried to get up, but his grip on her waist tightened, holding her in place.

Chris’s lips curled into a smirk as he leaned in closer. His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “I haven’t even started yet, Hazel.”

She froze as his words sank in. His grip was unrelenting, his eyes burning with an obsessive intensity.

“Be careful, Hazel. Don’t do something that makes me lose control. You wouldn’t like what I’d do then.”

---

Hazel blinked, her heart racing as she stared at the screen. The hero’s face morphed in her mind until it was Chris’s.

On the screen, the male character’s voice rang out, eerily similar to Chris’s. “And you know I wouldn’t hesitate to do it.”

She gasped, scrambling to turn off the TV. Her chest heaved as she threw the remote aside and stood up, pacing the room.

“Freak,” she muttered under her breath.

Her mind replayed Chris’s words like a broken record.

---

Flashback:

She tried to stand again, her voice firm. “Let me go, Chris.”

Instead of loosening his grip, he tightened it further. His voice trembled, the edges of his calm demeanor cracking. “Hazel, you’re scaring me. By giving him attention like that, you’re making me think… you’re in love with him.”

Her lips parted, ready to deny his accusation, but his saying caught her off guard

“Don’t even try to deny it,” he warned, his eyes piercing hers. “Don’t make my fears come true, Hazel. ”

End of flashback

---

Hazel sank onto the couch, her head in her hands. “If I say there’s nothing between Vincent and me, then there’s nothing! Why doesn’t he believe me?”

Her voice cracked with frustration. “He says he loves me, but what kind of love is this? How can you claim to love someone when you can’t even trust them?”

The anger burned hot in her chest. “If this is love, I don’t want it.”

......

Chris was in his home office , watching Hazel through the CCTV cameras he had secretly installed in her house, a sly smile playing on his lips as he observed her every move.

“So cute,” he murmured to himself, his gaze fixed on her as she absentmindedly munched on ice cream and reacted to the movie.

Just then, a knock on the door broke his concentration. His smile disappeared, and he quickly shut the laptop.

“Come in,” Chris said, standing up as he saw his father entering the room.

“Good morning, son,” his father greeted, a warm smile on his face.

“Very good morning, Dad,” Chris replied, motioning him inside.

As his father stepped into the room, his eyes flickered with curiosity. “What were you smiling at?” he asked, his tone light but knowing.

Chris hesitated, his eyes darting to the closed laptop. “Nothing,” he lied, though his expression betrayed him.

His father chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t lie to me, son. You know I wouldn’t mind. In fact, your mother would be thrilled to hear that you’ve finally found someone,” he teased.

Chris’s smile faltered as he sat down, leaning back against his chair. “But she doesn’t love me, Dad. She hates me,” he admitted, his voice laced with frustration.

His father didn’t seem fazed. Instead, he laughed softly. “What’s the fun in a love story if it isn’t one-sided at first? Your mother and I had a similar story.”

Chris’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean? She hated you too?”

His father leaned back, his expression softening with nostalgia. “Hate? She wouldn’t even look at me! Whenever I came near her, she’d say my face ruined her mood.”

Just then, Chris’s mother entered the room, her eyebrows raised. “Why are you filling my son’s ears with lies about me?” she asked, crossing her arms.

Her husband smirked. “Lies? I’m just reminding him how rude you were to me back in the day.”

She rolled her eyes. “You deserved every bit of it,” she retorted, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

Her attention shifted to Chris. “But why are you two talking about this now?”

His father grinned mischievously. “Because our son has found his future wife and hasn’t told us yet!”

Chris’s mother’s eyes lit up. “Really, Chris? When were you planning to tell us?” she asked, moving closer.

Chris sighed, his shoulders slumping. “There’s nothing to tell, Mom. She doesn’t even notice me. It feels like the whole world matters to her, and I’m just… nothing.”

His mother placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Don’t be sad, my boy. She’ll understand your worth one day.”

His father chimed in, grinning. “Just like your mother eventually did with me.”

The room filled with soft laughter at the memory.

Chris’s mother smiled warmly at him. “Okay, show me my daughter-in-law. Let me see the girl who’s stolen your heart.”

His father nodded in agreement. “Yes, let’s see her!”

Chris hesitated for a moment before pulling out his phone. Scrolling through his gallery, he found a picture of Hazel and held it up for them to see. “Here she is.”

His mother’s eyes widened. “She’s so beautiful!”

“What’s her name?” she asked.

“Hazel,” Chris replied, unable to hide the pride in his voice.

His mother beamed. “Just as beautiful as her name. So, when are you planning to bring her home to meet us?”

Before Chris could respond, his father interjected. “First, let him win her heart. She’s acting just like you used to!”

Chris’s mother smirked. “Then we’ll get along perfectly.”

They all laughed, and Chris felt a flicker of hope.

His mother moved closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad you’ve found someone, Chris. You used to avoid these conversations and insisted you’d stay single forever. I’m happy you’ve changed your mind.”

Chris smiled faintly. “It’s worth it… for her.”

His mother nodded, her smile softening. “God bless you. I hope she realizes your love soon.”

She looked curious again. “Where does she live? Where does she work?”

Chris hesitated but then confessed, “She works in my office.”

His father laughed. “Ah, that makes it more challenging!”

His mother shook her head. “It’ll be fine with time. Just win her heart and bring her home soon. I can’t wait to meet my daughter-in-law.”

Chris nodded. “Sure, Mom. I’ll try my best.”

.......

Hazel was cooking herself a simple meal while swaying to the beat of a catchy song. She hummed softly, her mood light and cheerful. Just as she reached for a seasoning jar, her phone rang.

Glancing at the screen, she saw Vincent’s name flash across the display. Hazel turned off the music and picked up the call.

“Hello, boss,” she answered with a smile.

“Call me Vincent. I’m not your boss anymore,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.

Hazel chuckled. “You’ll always be my boss, no matter what. Besides, it’s not like I’m never coming back.”

Vincent sighed dramatically. “Okay, fine. Have it your way.”

“So, why are you calling?” she asked, curious.

“I wanted to ask if you’d like to go out with me,” he said, his tone casual yet hopeful.

“Go out?” she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes. It’s been a while since we last met. It’s the weekend, you’re free, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to catch up, and ” Vincent explained.

“And?” Hazel prompted, sensing there was more to his invitation.

“And… I have something to tell you,” he admitted.

“What’s that?” she asked, intrigued.

“You’ll find out when we meet,” he replied with a teasing edge.

Hazel rolled her eyes but smiled. “Alright, fine. Where are we meeting?”

“I’ll send you the address,” Vincent said quickly.

“Okay,” she agreed before ending the call.

A moment later, her phone buzzed with a message containing the details. Hazel turned off the gas stove, hurried to her room, and started getting ready for their meeting.

---

Meanwhile, Chris was getting ready to leave the house when his mother stopped him in the hallway.

“Where are you going?” she asked, eyeing him curiously.

“To meet a business partner,” Chris replied, slipping on his blazer.

“On a weekend? Who schedules business meetings on weekends?” she questioned, narrowing her eyes.

“It’s important, Mom,” he said, brushing her concern aside.

“But still—” she began, but he cut her off.

“I’ll be back soon,” he assured her before rushing out of the house in a hurry.

---

Hazel arrived at the address Vincent had sent her. It was a cozy, upscale restaurant with warm lighting and a welcoming atmosphere. She stood outside for a moment, taking in the surroundings before pulling out her phone to call Vincent.

Before she could dial his number, a waitress approached her.

“Miss Hazel?” the waitress asked politely.

Hazel nodded. “Yes, that’s me.”

“This way, please,” the waitress said, gesturing for her to follow.

Hazel walked behind her, weaving through the bustling restaurant until they reached an open-air section.

The area was beautifully decorated. A single table stood in the center, adorned with candles and flowers. A variety of dishes were neatly arranged on the table, giving it a romantic, date-like vibe.

Vincent was standing nearby, waiting for her with a charming smile.

“You’re here,” he said as Hazel approached him.

Hazel looked around in surprise. “What’s all this? It feels like… a date.”

Vincent grinned. “Just thought we’d make it special. Come, have a seat.”

They sat down, and the conversation flowed easily. They talked about work, old memories, and shared plenty of laughs.

Hazel threw her head back, laughing at something Vincent said. “You’re so much fun,” she said between giggles.

Vincent leaned back, his expression softening. “I missed you.”

---

Not far away, Chris was in the middle of a business meeting with his partner.

“So, are you ready for another partnership with us?” Chris asked confidently.

His partner chuckled. “With offers as tempting as yours, how could I refuse?”

The two shared a laugh, but their conversation was interrupted when Chris’s phone rang.

“Excuse me,” Chris said, stepping out of the room to take the call.

As he paced near the restaurant’s open area, his eyes landed on a familiar figure. He froze, his phone slipping from his ear.

“Hazel?” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

From his vantage point, he saw her sitting with Vincent, laughing freely. His gaze darkened when Vincent suddenly got up from his chair and knelt in front of Hazel.

Chris clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides.

“What the hell is he doing?” he muttered under his breath, his blood boiling.

---

Hazel stared at Vincent, confused and caught off guard.

“What are you doing, Vincent?” she asked, her voice shaky.

Vincent reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Opening it, he revealed a delicate ring that sparkled in the dim light.

“Hazel… will you marry me?” he asked, his voice earnest and full of emotion.

To be continued...