Chapter 4
PRINCESS ZHAO RUOXI
TEST RESULT: Delusional Disorder.
I scoffed as my eyes lingered on the test result for a moment, before I lifted my gaze to Susanne. She looked like she was about to cry.
"What's that man saying? That I'm crazy?"
"Ms. Monroe, I think we should stay for a few more days here. The doctor said it'll take one month for you to recover, so—"
"I'm not staying here for a month. I'm leaving today…" I stood from the bed. "You're taking me to the pool where I fell." I demanded.
There's no way in hell I'm staying here for a whole month. Not even for another day. I need to go back home.
"Ms. Monroe… Why do you keep demanding to go back there? You literally almost died there, and you still want to go back?" She whined, frustrated.
"This is ridiculous." She dragged her fingers through her hair.
My eyes widened. "Do you think I'm crazy too?"
"Anyone would think that. You kept saying weird things, and now you want to go back to where you almost died. That's crazy." She blurted out, but gasped and covered her mouth, eyes widening.
I shot her a glare, but ignored her anyway.
Something suddenly crossed my mind, and I paused, my brows knitting together. It doesn't necessarily have to be in that swimming pool, right? I mean, any swimming pool would do, right?
I turned to Susanne with a friendly smile. "Do they have that thing here? I mean the swimming pool."
Her brows furrowed.
"The thing is, I can't remember what a swimming pool looks like, so I wanted to check out what almost killed me." I lied, praying silently that she falls for that. I would be so doomed if she doesn't.
She stared for a moment, hesitated, then sighed and said, "there's a swimming pool here, and since you want to know what it looks like, I'll take you there. At least this is better than going back to that house."
Perfect!
"I would have to make a request with the doctor." She said, turning to leave, but I held and pulled her back gently.
"You don't have to. We can just go there since it won't take much time." I tried to convince her.
She hesitated, but nodded, and soon, we were on our way to the swimming pool.
I can't wait to be back in the underworld. I'm going to crush those bastards and take my throne back.
People stared at me with disgust, some whispering, but I didn't pay attention to them though I was curious.
I had no idea what's going on, but Hazel can deal with it when she gets back to her body.
Susanne led me to the place. It was situated behind a closed door.
"Here, Ms..." she pointed towards an enclosed water system once we were inside… It was different from the one back in the underworld.
My breath caught in my throat. The mere sight of it sparked memories of how I was drowned in the indoor bathhouse, terrifying me.
My reflection stared back at me from the water as I stood above it, fingers tightening at my sides.
"You can't go close to it like that, Ms—"
"It's okay, Susanne. I'm trying to observe something," I cut her off, my voice almost shaking.
She can't suspect what I'm up to, please. She would stop me if she did.
I swallowed hard as one question rang in my head.
What if I jumped and ended up drowning?
That thought held me back. I can't even swim.
"No… I can't do this..." I whispered, turning to leave, but paused.
What about my kingdom? What about everything I've worked hard for? Am I really going to turn my back on them?
The thought of everyone believing that I died as a traitor, and crowning Azeriel in my place, made my chest burn with anger.
No! I can't let that happen.
With my eyes squeezed shut, I turned around and pushed myself forward.
"Ms Monroe!" Susanne's scream echoed, and my snapped open. Fear gripped me when I saw the water up close from beneath me. But it was already too late. I couldn't pull back even though I fought to.
I launched deep into the pool.
Susanne's screams echoed outside the pool, and the next second, someone dived into the pool and yanked me up before I could get used to the water.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Hazel?!" Knoxville snapped, his hand firm around my waist.
"Do you really have a death wish?"
"Let me go! Don't touch me!" I tried to fight him off, but his grip remained firm on me.
Ugh! How did he come here?
"What are you doing, Ms Monroe? Are you really determined to die?" Susanne's cries echoed, and I sighed.
Knoxville pushed me out of the pool before stepping out, his body soaked in water.
My eyes swept over his wet body, lingering on his perfectly toned abs and broad chest. They were so well defined that they had me distracted for a moment before his angry voice pulled me back.
"Are you doing all these because of what happened? You think doing this will make me change my mind?"
My gaze met his burning eyes, and I scoffed.
"Why did you pull me out?!" I screamed at his face, and his brows furrowed.
"I didn't ask you to come save me! I wasn't planning to die—"
"What the fuck were you trying to do if you weren't trying to kill yourself? You can't even swim, and yet you jumped into the pool like that?!"
"Firstly, fuck you too! And what's your business whatever I choose to do?" I yelled angrily, and he stared in disbelief.
"I think you've lost your mind, Hazel. You've completely lost it."
I dragged my fingers through my hair, frustrated.
He just ruined the chance I got.
I glared hard at him, before walking past him in a bid to leave, but he held my hand, bringing me to an abrupt halt.
"Hazel!"
"You don't walk out on me when I'm talking!" He gritted angrily.
I yanked his hand off, turning to face him.
"And who are you to tell me that?" I scoffed, my gaze shifted to where our hands were connected.
"Don't touch me!" I yanked his hand off.
His eyes flashed with surprise.
"This is all your fault! I ended up here because of you! Don't you dare touch me!" I yelled at the top of my voice.
Right… If he didn't treat his wife badly, she wouldn't have thought of committing suicide, and I wouldn't have ended up here.
Yes, everything that happened could've still happened, but at least, I would've woken up in the underworld!
His face softened for just half a second, then hardened again. He scoffed. "Don't blame me when you brought this upon yourself, Hazel!"
I blinked. What's he talking about? How did Hazel bring everything upon herself?
My lips parted, but no words came out.
He closed the distance between us, his eyes piercing into mine as he said, "I will ignore you if you ever jump into the pool or try to do anything stupid ever again," Then he turned and walked away.
I stared after him until he was out of my sight.
How did Hazel manage to date someone this mean and cold to the point of getting engaged to him?
Don't even talk to me about Rhaziel. At least, I never knew he was that heartless until the incident. He was always sweet to me.
Susanne hurried to me, panicking, "are you okay?"
I turned to her, "hmm. I'm fine,"
"Why do you keep wanting to commit suicide?" She broke down in tears, and I sighed.
I'm not ready for drama, please.
"Who said I was trying to commit suicide?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
"You don't know how to swim, still you keep jumping into the pool. Isn't that suicidal?"
I yawned tiredly, "I'm tired. Let's go back inside,"
I paused and looked back at the swimming pool as Susanne walked ahead of me.
Sighs. I couldn't even check if it'll actually work before that bastard pulled me out.
I can't waste time. I need to find a way to go back.
"What are you doing?" Susanne's voice drew my attention, and I wore a small smile before going to join her…
*****
Susanne had gone to get me something to eat, not before making sure that I won't step out, and here I am, drowning in thoughts.
The door suddenly burst open, and that witch walked in.
Azeriel. No. She's Clara now.
She stopped right in front of me, arms folded in front of her, and eyes fixed on me, a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips.
"I told you, Hazel… You have no place in Knox's heart…"
Sighs. Not now that I'm trying to think, please.
"I have Knox wrapped around my fingers. He didn't even come to you when he heard you almost died…" she paused, closing the distance between us, "while you were fighting for your life and probably hoping he would come to save you, Knox was wrapped in my bed, cuddling me,"
She laughed. "When Susanne called and told him about what happened, it took me just a few words to convince him that you were just acting up to get his attention because he was with me…" she smiled.
"What more do you need to convince you that Knox will never look at you the way you want him to?"
My chest tightened, not because of the crap she was telling me now… I didn't care about this… I was only hurt because of what she did to me as Azeriel.
My hands itched to strangle her, but I didn't. Instead, I remained calm.
"Sleeping with your brother… Is that something to be proud of in this era?"
Colors drained from her face, "huh?"
"Aren't you two siblings even if you were adopted?"
I wasn't ready for this, but it doesn't hurt putting her in her place, right?
I stood and stepped closer to her, a smirk curling up my lips, "why don't you tell him that you're in love with him? Or are you scared he would not marry you since he doesn't see you as more than his sister?"
Her lips parted, but she didn't say anything.
"Aze…" I paused and sighed, "Clara… Are people this shameless now?"
My hand hovered over her face, but I didn't touch her.
"Shamelessly hanging around with your brother, and wanting him to sleep with you. Isn't that disgusting?"
"Hazel!"
I sighed, taking a step back, "how bad can it be? Being a second option in the other world and even this one? You're pathetic,"
She blinked, her face going pale with shock, "wh…what?"
"What did you say, bitch?!" She yelled, her breath shaking, eyes burning with fury.
She lifted her hand to slap me, but paused, her eyes flicking to the door before she dropped to the floor and burst into tears.
I blinked. What's wrong with her? I didn't even touch her.
Knoxville walked in at that moment.
Oh… she's acting up because she saw him coming?
"I only came to say hi to Hazel after I heard she jumped into the swimming pool again. She got mad at me that I have all your attention..." she cried, leaning into him.
Don't tell me he would fall for her acting. It's so obvious she's lying.
"Hazel!" He turned to me, gritting his teeth.
I sighed. "Are you this dumb? I wonder why Hazel fell for someone like you."
Colors drained from his face, "what?!"