Chapter 2

Hazel had spent the entire night soaking in the mountain spring. It wasn't until dawn that she finally pulled herself together, tidied up, and dragged her exhausted body out of the hotel. Right then, her mother, Lily Dickson, called. Her voice was warm as always. There was a playful, teasing edge to her tone. "So, you've finally agreed to get married? What about that man you were pursuing in Southridge?" Hazel almost teared up upon hearing Lily's voice. She forced a smile."I don't like him anymore." Her tone seemed to convey more than her words did as she said, "Don't worry, Hazel. Your dad and I picked this live-in son-in-law for you. You'll grow to like him." Hazel didn't think much of it. They chatted for a bit longer before hanging up. She thought back to her past life. Before she threw herself at Freddy, he had always treated her quite well. Maybe she crossed a line that shouldn't have been crossed. This time, she'd just treat him as her older brother. Out on the track, Hazel immediately spotted Freddy among a group of rich young heirs. Macy was beside him, healthy and radiant. She was very much awake in this lifetime, unlike before when a racing accident had left her in a comatose state. The wind swept past them, tangling the ends of their clothes. They looked perfect together. Hazel remembered that Freddy had never raced in the past. He hated this kind of scene. But now, thinking back, he was probably only here because of Macy. She took a deep breath and tried to calm the tightness in her chest. Just as she was about to turn and leave, a voice called out behind her. "Hazel, what are you doing here?" Freddy stood in front of Macy, tall and imposing. His brows were furrowed, and his stance was protective. But in this lifetime, Hazel hadn't done anything to him the night before. Why was he still so wary of her? The thought flickered through her mind, but she didn't dwell on it. Under the scrutiny of the crowd, she thought for a moment and said obediently, "I'm sorry, Fred. I crossed the line yesterday. I know I was wrong. It won't happen again." She couldn't understand why his expression seemed to darken even more. His usually indifferent eyes held a faint trace of mockery. It looked as if he didn't believe a word she said. Hazel gave a bitter smile. Time would prove everything. "Fred, I want those rosary beads," a sweet voice suddenly chimed in. Macy clung to Freddy's arm. Her smile was radiant and bold. She was the kind of woman anyone would like at first glance. Freddy was a completely different person with Macy. His voice softened. "Alright, I'll take off the one I'm wearing and give it to you." But Macy tugged on his arm while pouting sweetly. "I want the one Hazel's wearing. Let's race for it. Whoever wins gets the rosary bead." Hazel instinctively looked down at the rosary beads on her wrist. Freddy had given it to her when she was 18 years old, after rescuing her from kidnappers. She'd fallen gravely ill afterward and lost all memory of what happened. But she remembered his arms holding her tight, and the way his voice trembled when he said, "I've had two of these since I was born. I'm giving this one to you. Let it protect you whenever I can't." That was the moment Hazel had fallen for him. She had worn those beads in both lifetimes. But since she'd already decided to let go, maybe it was time to return them. It was better to rip the bandage off quickly. Hazel gritted her teeth. "No need to race. You can have it." She started to take it off. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Freddy's expression darken. His fist clenched slightly. But it was over in a flash. It was so quick that she wondered if she imagined it. Macy kept smiling. "Let's race anyway. Otherwise, it won't feel fair, right?" Hazel knew Macy was a skilled racer. But after being kidnapped as a child, Hazel had developed a fear of anything extreme. Freddy knew this. Since Macy wasn't hurt now, Freddy would step in for Hazel even if he only saw her as a sister. But to Hazel's surprise, he barely spared her a glance. His voice was colder than the winter wind in Northbury. "If Macy wants to race, then go along with her. You owe her this." His last sentence was too quiet for Hazel to catch. Her eyes widened. Why was this happening? Her heart sank when she caught the triumphant glint in Macy's eyes. Hazel was practically pushed into the driver's seat by the crowd. Her palms were slick with cold sweat. The race started. Memories of her kidnapping suddenly flooded back. Hazel's head throbbed violently, and her hands were frozen on the wheel. All of a sudden, a powerful force slammed into her car. For a split second, the impact was so brutal her insides felt like they'd been rearranged. Pain shot through every part of her body. She swallowed the blood rising in her throat and looked up. Macy's car had swerved hard against the passenger side of Hazel's, throwing sparks into the air. From Freddy's angle, it looked like Hazel had done it on purpose. At the same time, a roar of panic burst out from behind them. "Macy!"