Running Away from Marriage, Leaving Deception Behind

Hazel sat quietly beside him, her laptop open as she transferred the surveillance footage onto a USB drive. She had a surprise in mind that would leave a mark before she walked away.

Halfway through the transfer, Ambrose suddenly looked up, his gaze scanning the house. "Why does it feel so empty in here all of a sudden? Didn’t you decorate?"

"You told me to keep things simple."

Hazel wasn’t concerned. She knew Ambrose's eyes had long stopped seeing anything that didn’t involve Scarlett.

However, Ambrose’s gaze lingered on the countdown calendar in the living room this time. He let out a soft laugh. "Time flies, huh? Only seven days left until our wedding."

Hazel stood up and walked over to the calendar. With a quick motion, she tore off two pages.

"Our wedding is in five days."

The two pages she tore off had wishes written: “Ride a Ferris wheel together” and “Watch the stars together.” These were things Ambrose had already done with Scarlett.

A strange pang tugged at Ambrose’s heart, like a fleeting shadow of something important he’d missed. He opened his mouth to say more, but Hazel’s phone buzzed, cutting through the moment.

Noticing her mother’s name on the screen, Hazel excused herself and stepped onto the balcony to answer.

When she returned, Ambrose was already lost in his world, his eyes glued to his phone as he typed away, undoubtedly chatting with Scarlett.

“Who called? I thought I heard something about a visa,” he asked casually, barely looking up.

“Nothing important—just work,” Hazel replied, her tone light and dismissive.

Ambrose exhaled in relief. “Good. Don’t go planning any honeymoon trips. I won’t have the time.”

“I know,” she said softly.

Since Scarlett’s return, Ambrose couldn’t bear to be away from her, not even for a moment. It was clear he had no time or space for anyone else.

They sat in strained silence, the tension in the room growing heavier with every passing second. Ambrose shifted uncomfortably, an inexplicable unease curling in the pit of his stomach.

Hazel had always carried herself with a quiet grace, a sensibility born not of choice but necessity. Unlike other girls, she never indulged in tantrums or petty whims.

But Ambrose knew the truth; her calm demeanor was a mask, a defense she had perfected over the years.

Beneath it all, Hazel was just a fragile, love-starved girl, yearning for affection she rarely received.

In the past, every time he stepped through the door, she would rush into his arms, her eyes alight with joy as she eagerly shared every detail of her day.

She would chatter endlessly, filling the silence with her stories, oblivious to whether he was listening or not.

Now, the quiet was deafening. It pressed down on him, feeling unnatural and wrong. Ambrose set his phone aside, his gaze shifting to Hazel.

“You’ve worked so hard preparing for the wedding. Once this is all over…”

But Hazel cut him off, her tone steady yet pointed. “Where’s your wedding ring?”

He froze, caught off guard by the sudden question. “I’m not sure… I must’ve lost it somewhere.”

The memory crept back into his mind unbidden. It had been the night of their engagement. Scarlett had seen the ring and been upset.

He had slipped it off to calm her down, setting it aside without a second thought.

Ambrose opened his mouth to explain, guilt flickering in his eyes, but Hazel interrupted him almost dismissively. “If it’s lost, it’s lost. Just buy a new one.”

She didn’t linger on the matter. In her heart, she knew the truth. Once she left, Ambrose would undoubtedly replace it with a stunning diamond ring for Scarlett.

This ring, their ring, had been destined for the trash heap from the moment Scarlett had stepped back into his life. Whether it was now or later didn’t make a difference.

Ambrose had grown used to Hazel’s endless understanding, her boundless patience that bordered on self-sacrifice.

Yet, for the first time, her indifference rattled him. It was as if he hadn’t just lost a ring but something intangible, something far more valuable.

The unease gnawed at him, relentless and unfamiliar. Determined to ease the weight pressing on his chest, Ambrose resolved to make things right with Hazel.