Chris ended the call abruptly, his jaw tightening as he glared at them from a distance. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white, the anger bubbling inside him like a volcano about to erupt.

“How dare he,” he muttered under his breath, his voice low but laced with venom. His eyes burned with fury, fixated on Vincent and Hazel, who seemed completely engrossed in their conversation.

He took a step forward, his body taut with rage, ready to confront them. But before he could move any further, his partner, Ethan, approached him.

“Chris?” Ethan’s brows furrowed as he glanced at him. “Everything okay? You seem... off.”

Chris forced a tight smile, his expression betraying the storm brewing within. “I’m fine,” he said curtly, his voice sharp enough to cut.

Ethan studied him for a moment, unconvinced. “You sure? ”

“I said I’m fine,” Chris interrupted, his tone firmer this time, leaving no room for argument.

Ethan hesitated but decided not to push further. Instead, he offered a polite smile. “Alright, well, I think I should get going now. It was nice meeting him... and, well, everyone.”

Chris nodded stiffly. “Let me walk you to your car,” he said, his voice calmer but still distant.

As they began walking, His partner tried to make  talk, but Chris barely responded. His mind was elsewhere, his focus still lingering on Hazel and Vincent. Before stepping out, Chris glanced back one last time, his gaze lingering on Hazel. There was a flicker of something more than anger in his eyes—hurt, perhaps—but he quickly turned away, his expression hardening once more.

......

Hazel stepped out of the restaurant, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. Spotting a taxi approaching, she raised her hand, and it came to a halt. Sliding into the backseat, she gave the driver her address, leaning back as she tried to collect her thoughts.

Her heart was still racing from the events at the restaurant. Vincent’s proposal. She was so lost in her thoughts that she barely noticed when the taxi suddenly screeched to a stop.

“What now?” she muttered, glancing out the window. Her eyes widened in surprise as a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom blocked the taxi's path.

“What the hell?” she exclaimed, leaning forward. But her confusion turned to shock when she saw Chris stepping out of the car. His face was carved with fury, his jaw tight, and his dark eyes burning with intensity.

Her heart sank. Does he know about Vincent’s proposal? she thought, panic creeping in.

Chris strode toward her with purpose, his movements sharp and tense. Without saying a word, he yanked open her door.

“Chris, what are you doing?” she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

Ignoring her, he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the car with enough force to make her stumble.

“Let me go!” she protested but he not did.  taxi driver, clearly intimidated by the situation, didn’t wait around. The taxi sped off, disappearing into the night.

She glared at Chris, trying to pull her arm free. “That taxi was your plan, wasn’t it?”

He didn’t answer, his silence and the storm in his eyes making her uneasy. Instead, he dragged her toward his car, his grip unrelenting.

“Chris, release me!” she said, trying to sound firm, but her voice wavered slightly.

Still, he didn’t respond. Reaching his car, he opened the passenger door and shoved her inside, slamming it shut before she could even attempt to get out.

“Chris! What’s wrong with you?” she yelled as he climbed into the driver’s seat, his jaw clenched so tightly she thought it might snap.

He started the engine, the car roaring to life, and sped off before she could process what was happening.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked, her voice rising with panic.

Chris’s silence was deafening, his focus solely on the road.

......

“Chris, slow down! You’re going too fast!” she said , gripping the seat as the car hurtled forward.

Her fear spiked when he didn’t respond, the speedometer climbing higher.

“If you don’t slow down, I’ll jump out!” she threatened, reaching for the door handle.

Before she could open it, he hit the lock button, the windows and doors securing with a loud click.

“Chris!” she yelled, panic overtaking her anger.

Minutes felt like hours as the car tore down unfamiliar roads. Hazel clutched the armrest, her knuckles white. The scenery changed, and soon they were driving through a barren area with nothing but large, jagged stones surrounding them.

Hazel’s chest tightened as she realized the car was speeding directly toward a massive boulder.

“Chris! Stop the car!” she screamed, her voice breaking.

He didn’t slow down, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were pale.

“Chris, Are you trying to kill us?” she said , tears prickling her eyes.

The boulder loomed closer, and she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact. But just as they were about to hit, the car came to a screeching halt, jerking her forward against the seatbelt.

She sat there, heart pounding, trying to steady her breathing. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw Chris, still gripping the steering wheel, his shoulders rising and falling as he struggled to calm himself.

“What the hell was that?” she demanded, her voice shaking but laced with anger.

Chris didn’t answer. Instead, in one swift motion, he flung open his door, stormed around the car, and yanked her door open.

“What are you—” she started, but he grabbed her arm again, pulling her out roughly.

“Chris, stop it!” she yelled, struggling against his grip.

He slammed the door shut behind her and spun her around, pressing her back against the car. His furious gaze locked onto hers, the intensity in his eyes making her breath hitch.

For a moment, he said nothing, his burning eyes searching hers. The tension crackled between them, and she could feel the storm of emotions raging inside him

.......

She saw the unmistakable shimmer of water forming in Chris’s eyes.

Is he about to cry? she wondered, her heart clenching at the sight.

Chris closed his eyes tightly, lowering his head as if trying to compose himself. Hazel stood frozen, too stunned to speak, her mind racing .

When he finally looked up, his red-rimmed eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her stomach churn.

“Did you agree to it?” he asked, his voice low but trembling with barely contained rage.

“I—” she started, but before she could say another word, his hands shot out, gripping her arms tightly.

“I asked you something!” he shouted, his voice booming as he leaned closer to her, his face twisted with anger and anguish.

“Chris, you’re scaring me!” she said, her voice shaky as she struggled against his grip.

“I’m scaring you?” he repeated, his tone dripping with bitterness. He slowly let go of her, his hands dropping to his sides. Hazel stood rooted to the spot, her heart pounding in her chest.

“It’s you who’s scaring me,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “You said there was nothing between you two.” His words were soft but carried a heavy weight, each syllable laced with pain.

Hazel opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, he grabbed her arms again, his fingers digging into her skin.

“Then what is this?” he demanded, his voice rising. “Why did he propose to you?” His tone turned venomous, his fury boiling over. “How dare he?”

“Chris, you’re hurting me!” she said, trying to sound brave, though her voice wavered.

His grip on her arm didn’t loosen. He leaned in, his face inches from hers, his breathing ragged.

“Chris—” she tried, but he cut her off.

“What was your answer?” he asked, his voice breaking as he searched her face for a response. “Don’t tell me—don’t you dare tell me you said yes!” The fear in his eyes was raw, his anger a mask barely hiding the deep pain beneath.

“Chris—” she began again, but he shook her roughly, his desperation taking over.

“I asked you something!” he shouted, his grip tightening as he tried to force an answer from her. “Did you say yes?”

“I didn’t!” she cried, shoving against his chest with all her strength. His grip loosened, and he stepped back slightly, his breathing ragged as his arms fell to his sides.

Chris stared at her, his expression shifting from anger to something else entirely—relief mixed with sorrow.

Hazel met his gaze, her own eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears. “I didn’t,” she said firmly, her voice steadier this time.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was deafening, filled only with the sound of their heavy breathing. Chris’s shoulders slumped, and he ran a hand through his hair, his anger giving way to vulnerability.

.......

Flashback

“Will you marry me?” Vincent asked, holding out a small velvet box with a dazzling ring inside.

The smile that had graced Hazel’s face moments ago vanished in an instant. Her breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively stepped back, turning away from him to compose herself.

“What’s wrong, Hazel?” Vincent’s smile faltered as he noticed her sudden change in demeanor. Concern filled his voice.

“Don’t... don’t you like the ring?” he asked hesitantly, his fingers trembling slightly. “If it’s not to your liking, I can get another one. Just tell me what you want.”

“Vincent,” Hazel interrupted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s not about the ring.”

Confusion clouded his features. “Then what is it?” he asked, taking a tentative step closer.

She turned to face him, her eyes filled with a mixture of regret and sorrow. “I can’t accept it,” she said, her words laced with guilt.

His heart sank. “What?” he asked, his voice breaking.

“I’m sorry, Vincent,” she continued, her hands nervously clasped together. “You’ve always been such a wonderful friend to me. I value our friendship more than I can say, but… I’ve never thought of us like that. Not in that way.”

The panic in his eyes was unmistakable. “Hazel, wait!” he said, reaching out to grab her wrist as she started to turn away. His grip was gentle but desperate, as though letting go would mean losing her entirely.

“There’s no rush,” he said quickly, his voice tinged with a plea. “You don’t have to decide right now. Take your time. Think about it, please.”

Hazel’s heart ached at the sight of him, his usually confident demeanor replaced by heartbreak and vulnerability. She saw the pain in his eyes, the silent hope he clung to, and it made her rejection all the more difficult.

“I’ve already thought about it, Vincent,” she said softly, her voice trembling. “And I’m so sorry.  I can’t give you the answer you’re hoping for.”

Vincent’s shoulders slumped, and his grip on her wrist loosened slightly. “Why, Hazel?” he asked, his voice barely audible. “Am I not enough?”

Her chest tightened. “It’s not that,” she assured him. “it's just  I don’t feel this way about you. I never have.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. She could see the heartbreak etched into his features.

“I’m sorry, Vincent,” she said again, her voice thick with emotion. “You mean so much to me, and I don’t want to lose our friendship. But this… I just can’t.”

She gently pulled her wrist free, taking a step back.

“Hazel—” he started, his voice filled with desperation, but she shook her head, cutting him off.

“Please,” she said softly.

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, each step feeling heavier than the last. She didn’t look back.

End of Flashback

.......

"Hazel, you are only mine, he said, his voice firm and unyielding. "You are not allowed to say yes to anyone but me"

She stared at him, disbelief written all over her face.

"Do you get it?" he demanded, his eyes

narrowing.

"No, I don't," she replied, her tone steady but defiant. "I'm not yours, Chris. I'm no one's."

Her words cut through the tension like a knife. Hazel turned sharply, intending to leave, but just as she took her first step, Chris's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and answered.

He put it on speaker, his gaze fixed on her.

"He's right in front of me. What should I

do?" the voice on the other end asked, calm but carrying a menacing edge.

Hazel froze mid-step, her heart pounding. She slowly turned to face Chris, her eyes wide with shock.

"Kill him" Chris said without hesitation, his gaze locked on hers.