Chapter 5
HAZEL MONROE (PRINCESS XAVIERA)
I was finally taken back home after three days of staying at the hospital.
Susanne had kept a close tab on me these past few days. She wouldn't leave my side. Wouldn't let me go anywhere alone because she was scared of me jumping into the pool again.
As for that annoying jerk, I haven't seen him since that day that he disrupted me at the pool.
I stood in the spacious living room of the mansion, my eyes sweeping around.
Susanne told me that I (Hazel) own this house and everything in it.
Portraits of Hazel hung on the wall. My eyes shifted to the biggest portrait on the wall, and I scoffed.
It's Knoxville.
Seriously? She built this house and yet put the portrait of a man who doesn't care about her, on the wall.
Hazel and I may have a little in common, but no, I'm not this desperate and stupid.
Susanne walked back into the living room, smiling, "You should go shower, Ms Monroe."
I noticed the way Susanne's eyes flare when she saw me staring at Knoxville's portrait.
"I wonder what's so good about that jerk. You always stare at that portrait every time, smiling," she muttered, but I heard her.
I sighed. This is an eyesore. I can't spend another second with that portrait here.
"Get rid of that..." I said casually, and Susanne's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
"That portrait…" I pointed to it, "I don't want to see it there again."
Her face brightened with a smile, like she's been waiting for like forever to hear that.
"Yes, Ms. I'll do that right away."
I sat on the couch, crossing my legs as I watched her take down the portrait.
"What should I do with this?" She asked once she'd brought it down.
"Just throw it out." I said dismissively, and she nodded before walking away.
I touched my temple, many thoughts lingering on my mind. It's been four days since I found myself here.
I can't stay here longer than this. I need to find a way back home. Who knows, maybe that witch has already taken my crown, but it doesn't matter. I'm going to take it back.
But how do I go back? Susanne wouldn't even let me go back to that jerk's house.
I don't know how to go about it. I can't go there alone.
I dragged my fingers through my hair, frustrated, but paused as an idea crossed my mind.
My mood brightened
Susanne walked in at that moment, and I quickly stood up.
"Susanne… Can you take me to Knoxville's house?"
She groaned. "Not again, Ms Monroe. I already told you to forget it. And besides, that jerk…" she paused and gasped.
"Sorry… I mean, Mr. Whitmore already told you not to show up at his house…"
"That jerk! How could he treat you like that? God! I hate him so much." she muttered, looking away.
She suddenly held my hands, eyes locked on me, "can you move on from that man already? I know you don't want to hear this, but he doesn't love you. He never did. So can you stop trying to force things?"
I blinked.
"Seeing you like this is breaking my heart. I'm sorry to say this, but can you use your head even if it's just this once?"
I glared at her, and she quickly apologised.
"I forgot something important there. It's not that I'm going over there because of him." I said, trying to sound convincing.
I just need to get to his house, make sure no one is around, and then jump into the swimming pool.
She sighed and went to drop on the couch, "can we really not do—"
"It's not going to take time. I just need to pick it up, and that's it."
We locked eyes for a moment, my heart pounding as I prayed silently that she gave in.
She sighed, "you win!"
Yes!
*****
The city blurred past us as Susanne drove us to Knoxville's house.
Susanne told me about cars and cellphones back at the hospital.
It's fascinating.
Too bad I won't be seeing this for long because I'm going back home today.
The car suddenly stopped moving, and just as I was about to ask Susanne why she stopped, she spoke first, "we're here,"
I looked out through the window. A tall magnificent building stood behind the big bar gate.
His house is beautiful.
"I still don't have a good feeling about this, Ms Monroe…" Susanne turned back to me just as I reached for the door.
"Do you really have to do this? And what's so important you want to pick from there that you don't even want to talk about?"
I stared at her. I've only spent a few days with Susanne and I've grown fond of her. She's just like Vaelora. A pain in my ass, yet I loved her so much.
I can't wait to see her again, and I'm going to miss Susanne here.
I gave her an assuring smile, "it's only going to take a few minutes. I'll be back."
I felt bad lying to her, but that was better than letting her get in my way again.
I stepped out of the car and approached the gate.
It wasn't locked, but just as I was about to walk in, a few people rushed up to me, holding phones and cameras to my face, light flashing on my face as they threw questions at me.
"Did you really lie about the engagement between you and Mr. Whitmore?"
"Were you really going to commit suicide?"
"What are you doing in Mr Whitmore's house?"
"Please say something, Ms. Monroe,"
Their questions overlapped, microphones almost hitting my face, flashlights blinding as they shoved me around.
My eyes spun as their questions kept pouring in.
Susanne told me that Hazel was a popular actress and a high-paid model.
She was friends with Knoxville since childhood, but they later got engaged to be married two years ago by Knoxville's grandfather's order.
Three days before she jumped into the pool, she'd finally announced their engagement to the public after hiding it for years, but Clara had come out to accuse her of lying, getting her on the bad side of the public.
That was all Susanne knew about it. She didn't tell me why Hazel jumped into the swimming pool.
"Who are you people?" I yelled, and they all flinched, stepping back from me.
"Look, I don't have time for this. I have something important to take care of you, so you'd better leave now." I gritted angrily.
I can't have them get in my way. I'm so close to going back to my world.
Susanne quickly walked in at that moment, dragging my hand, but they wouldn't let me leave.
"Shit! I told you not to come out here..." Susanne said amid the chaos, trying to get me back to the car, but I pulled back.
I won't leave here. I need to get into the house.
"What are you doing? You're going to get yourself into trouble!"
"Don't you think it's illegal filming and interviewing someone without their consent?"
The noise faltered before fading into a heavy silence.
I turned.
He stood just a few feet away from us, hands tucked in his pockets. Tall. Casually dressed, yet handsome. He had the kind of face that only royalties had back in the underworld.
His gaze swept over the reporters calmly, before settling on me. Dark eyes.
The flashing lights dimmed, then whispers and gasps echoed.
"That's Theodore Vance. What's he doing here?"
"I heard he lives in this neighborhood,"
"Come on, let's go, guys," they retreated one after the other.
I turned back to him, his face softening as our eyes locked.
Who is he?
My eyes lingered on him for a moment, then I turned back to Susanne and said, "You should wait in the car. I'll be back shortly," and with that, I turned to head inside the compound when the man spoke.
"It's been a while, Ms. Monroe,"
I paused…