“Over twenty years of love, can you truly forget it like that?”
A breeze swept the sadness from Hazel’s heart. Without looking back, she said coldly, “I can.”
“When you were with Scarlett, didn’t you forget about me completely? I can handle the pain you inflicted; so can I.”
“So stop wasting your time. Go back to Scarlett, or anyone else; just leave me alone.”
Hazel walked on, unwavering.
Ambrose, a hollow shell of his former self, only turned and slowly headed home after Hazel vanished into the night. He walked in a daze, unable to comprehend her transformation. Countless, tangled thoughts swirled within him. But before he could reflect, Assistant William’s report shattered his trance: Scarlett had attempted suicide.
“The chaos caused by Madam’s elopement, fueled by the Smith family’s machinations… The Wright family used every connection, but we couldn’t contain the fallout.”
“Miss Jones tried to reach you but couldn’t get through. After facing relentless online attacks, she broke and overdosed.”
Ambrose’s heart sank. “How is she?”
“She was saved in time. She’s out of serious danger.”
Assistant William noted Ambrose’s unusual calm. In the past, anything involving Scarlett would have consumed him. He would have abandoned billion-dollar contracts, skipped vital meetings, even left his fiancée. Yet, he barely flinched at Scarlett’s suicide attempt.
After a hesitation, recalling Claudia’s words, Assistant William spoke carefully. “Mr. Wright, you’ve been gone a while, and there’s much to do with the company. Several shareholders are growing discontent and plan to oust you. And with Miss Jones… Madam thinks you should return home as soon as possible.”
He couldn’t bring himself to repeat Claudia’s blunt advice: Don’t waste your energy on people who don’t matter.
Everyone had whispered that Ambrose would call off the wedding for Scarlett. Her importance to him was no secret. But no one expected Hazel, the quiet endurer, to be the one to walk away, to sever their ties.
At that moment, Assistant William understood. No matter who entered his life, Ambrose could never truly replace Hazel. He had close bonds with many women, like Scarlett, but only Hazel would ever truly hold the title of Mrs. Wright in his heart.
Ambrose sank into deep thought, the weight of Assistant William’s words heavy on his shoulders. He couldn’t deny their truth. The Wright family’s empire was built on generations of relentless effort; no single mistake of his could bring it crashing down.
But what did that mean for Hazel? Returning home now meant closing the door on any future with her, and that was unacceptable. He couldn’t let go of Hazel, his anchor.
Pacing restlessly, his mind raced. The thought of losing Scarlett, of never seeing her again, brought a bitter pang of sadness, a reminder of past tenderness.