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.

voice choked with emotion as an uncontrollable s ob wracked through my trembling frame. In an instant, I sprinted towards him, enclosing him in a desperate, tight embrace. “What happened, Rav? I’ve been incessantly

instead of enfolding me, and he stood in silence, offering no explanation. Drawing back slightly, I

and took a deliberate step back. “We need

in concern. “What do we need to talk about?” I asked, my voice filled with a mix

his voice deep and resonant. “Would you prefer to have this conversation here

the maids were nowhere to be seen at the moment, their omnipresence was a constant reminder. I swallowed hard, struggling to find my voice. “Let’s go to our bedroom,” I said, my exhale

me, ascending the stairs with a deliberate pace. I followed him silently, my heart pounding with anticipation. It was not until he reached the sanctuary

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

strolled over to the window, his back turned towards me, his gaze fixed on the outside world. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” he began, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty, “but there’s something…

him. “What do you mean, Rav?” I asked, my words laced with a genuine desire for understanding. “Things

Chapter 1

you wanted to hear, Hazel,” he responded, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. Turning to face me, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, sending a shiver down my spine. “I’ve been doing that for some time now, but I

hold of me. “What are you trying to say, Rav?” I whispered, my voice barely audible, too afraid to voice

brown envelope that had escaped my notice until now. “I want you to sign these documents,” he said,

hung in the air, piercing my heart with its implication. “What’s in there?” I asked, my voice sounding foolish

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