Chapter 16

Ethan gracefully slid into the back seat of his car,

“Drive to the company.” He instructed.

His expression a mixture of sourness and sadness.

The vivid image he had just witnessed played like a relentless movie in his mind, unleashing a torrent of complex emotions within him. Hazel, the woman who had once been his wife, was now remarried and had children. He couldn’t help but emit a deep sigh, briefly shutting his eyes.

The road stretched before him, eerily free of other vehicles, with only pedestrians ambling by. Hazel had transformed in ways that were hard for him to fathom. She exuded an air of maturity, her appearance radiating a newfound sense of adulthood. Gone was the fragile young girl he had known; in her place stood a woman who had undergone a profound growth and change..

Her alluring scent, reminiscent of Eucalyptus, seemed to linger tantalizingly in his senses. Her once–short hair had now grown considerably, flowing down her back in cascades. Her face had rounded out, adopting a fuller and more mature shape, while her l*ps had taken on a plump and inviting quality. As she had conversed with him, he had found himself unconsciously registering her features.

“What the hell, Ethan?” he groaned audibly, grappling with the complexity of his thoughts. “Is there an issue, boss?” Axel, seated in the front, inquired, as the car came to a halt. “No,” Ethan replied curtly, though the reality was quite the opposite. He was thinking of his ex–wife!

“Drive,” he ordered firmly.

Ethan attempted to redirect his focus for the remainder of the car ride, but his mind. persistently circled back to Hazel. The man standing beside her, he deduced, must be her

mate.

Ethan reclined in his seat, thoughts swirling like a tempest in his mind. He couldn’t help but recall the enchanting faces of Hazel’s beautiful children, a soft chuckle escaping his l*ps as he reminisced about Daisy’s adorable pout and Liam’s fiery temper. The little boy had exhibited a fiery temper, even growling at him, an Alpha!.

He was a tiny warrior, fiercely protective of his sister and mother. In some peculiar way, that boy reminded him of his own younger self, and it tugged at his heart.

“Perhaps, if Hazel hadn’t left, those kids would be mine,” he mused momentarily, a wistful expression crossing his face. However, he swiftly leaned forward, dismissing such thoughts from his mind. He was remarried. So was Hazel. He sternly reminded himself of these facts.

Hazel had undergone a significant transformation, but so had Ethan. He was no longer the same man he used to be, and he was certain she must have noticed it. The taint of a man who had been involved in unsavory dealings had marked him–his aura, his scent, even the look in his eyes had all changed..

Nevertheless, the memory of that little boy walking up to him, growling and yelling, brought a genuine smile to Ethan’s face. The tiny cupcake clutching his leg and attempting to raise it was so small compared to his imposing frame that he could barely see her without making an effort to bend down. Yet, upon noticing her, an inexplicable urge had surged

him to lower himself to her eye level and comfort her–until her protective brother charged in, displaying his macho bravado. The little girl bore

with their innocence. Maybe, if he had such a family, he wouldn’t have become deeply entangled in the dark world he now inhabited. The little girl. possessed the kind of eyes that could

together; he couldn’t help but recall the heartwarming image of the children bursting into giggles. Even the initially grumpy little man who had growled at him just moments ago had softened at the sight of his mom. It expanded the

stealing a final glimpse of Hazel’s radiant smile as she gazed down at her children. She looked truly lovely with that smile, and an air of melancholy settled over him. Perhaps, he contemplated, it was for the best that they remained apart.

she works, and gather any other pertinent details,”

boss,” came the prompt

added with a note of secrecy, “don’t breathe a

someone?” Axel

sighed with a

a frustrated sigh as his phone vibrated, interrupting

“Bella,” he acknowledged.

back?”

“Yes,” he replied shortly.

Her voice carried a hopeful tone. Ethan’s demanding schedule often kept him at the office, tending to matters that Bella remained blissfully unaware

but I’ll be heading

trailed off into the background for Ethan. She was perpetually hosting one event after another, relishing her role as the wife of one of the city’s most influential figures. Material wealth and social status appeared to be her primary concern, it was all she cared about leaving Ethan feeling drained. His mind wandered away from the conversation, back to the image of the little girl who had squatted

you listening?” Bella’s voice snapped him back to

Bella had always been so shallow, with her singular focus on wealth. It was a stark contrast to the genuine warmth he had once known in Hazel, a

flitted through his mind. He had to forcefully pull himself

his work, Ethan’s trusted

conflict with your schedule for their gala. Would the twenty–third of this month work

on my

have meetings related to the ongoing takeovers. It’s not overly hectic,” Axel replied, consulting Ethan’s calendar. “However, it’s also the day of Mrs. Bella’s art

diversified his interests beyond the business world, engaging in charitable endeavors that included overseeing

let out an exasperated sigh at the mention of yet another

works. Bella can manage her little parties without my presence,” he stated firmly. Yet, buried deep within, a curiosity nagged at him. What were Hazel’s children named? Why had she returned to the country? A part of

***

They had settled into

on the sofa, indulging in a late–night snack, while Daisy and Liam, exhausted from the day’s excitement, lay fast asleep. They had sought refuge in Hazel’s room, as their own still required significant work. Their new apartment, situated on the third floor, boasted two bedrooms and a spacious balcony. The kids had spent hours exploring their new

on this case, to determine if the surgery can be scheduled earlier or not. Although Daisy seems healthier

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