Chapter 6

It turned out that Freddy had mistaken Hazel for Macy. Hazel felt a chill rush through her body. The pain that had been bottled up inside exploded all at once, spreading until she could barely breathe. Her nose stung. Freddy had always been cold and aloof. Even in her past life when they'd been together, she'd never heard him say anything like that. So this was what he was like when he truly loved someone. "Fred!" It was Macy. She took his hand and smiled. "Why don't you head inside first? I'll be right there." Freddy seemed to sober up a little. Without even glancing at Hazel, he rasped out an "okay" and walked away. Once he was gone, Macy turned to Hazel with an expressionless face. A few seconds later, she forced a fake smile. "I brought Fred here to meet some friends tonight. That message was a joke. I lost a game and sent it from his phone. I didn't expect that you'd actually come. You're so pathetic! "Didn't you learn your lesson from the race last time? Your leg just healed, and you're already trying to cling to Fred again? Looks like I didn't draw enough blood." Just as she finished, startled gasps erupted from inside the bar. Freddy had a young heir by the collar. His eyes were blazing with fury. His whole presence radiated danger, like a demon dragged up from hell. The young heir trembled but kept provoking him. "What? Did I say something wrong? That slut, Macy, has probably slept with half the…" Before he could finish, Freddy slammed his head against the wall. Hazel walked in just in time to see it. Macy rushed over in tears. "Fred, stop… You're scaring me…" That one sentence was enough to make him stop. Hazel watched as he pulled Macy tightly into his arms. He held her like she was something precious he was terrified to lose. Behind him, the guy he'd just attacked somehow got back on his feet. He grabbed a nearby bottle and swung it toward Freddy's head like a madman. "Watch out!" Hazel's pupils shrank in alarm. Freddy instinctively shielded Macy and dodged the attack. The bottle missed them completely and smashed into Hazel's leg. She didn't have time to move. With a loud crack, pain shot through her like fire. Her face turned pale. The black pants she wore hid the blood well. Her leg was injured again. What about the dance competition next week? She'd already missed it once in her past life. Was she going to lose it again? She couldn't miss it again. Clutching the wall, Hazel forced herself to stand and limped over to Freddy. She didn't know a single other soul here. All she could do was ask him for help. "Fred, I came out in a hurry and forgot my phone. Can you call a cab for me? My leg's injured. I don't think I can…" Before she could finish, Macy cut her off with a cold glare. "Can't you see Fred is not in the mood right now? Where's your injury? Hazel, is this just another lie to get his attention? " Hazel quickly shook her head. "No, I'm not…" Freddy seemed to sober up a little. With a faint slur in his voice, he sneered and said, "Hazel, I hate liars the most. And you just keep doing it over and over. From now on, I'll pretend I never had a sister like you." The lights in the bar were dim, so Hazel wasn't even sure if he'd looked at her. But then she heard his voice, so soft and gentle it seemed unreal. "I'm sorry, Macy. I got your white dress dirty. I'll buy you a new one, okay?" He wrapped his arm around Macy and walked away. He didn't look back at all. Macy, on the other hand, turned her head and shot Hazel a smug look. Her eyes were full of undisguised triumph. At that moment, all the pain and humiliation crashed down on Hazel like a tidal wave. She was in so much pain that she collapsed to the floor. She was unable to hold herself up any longer. Thick, heavy tears spilled onto the cold ground, each one landing with a silent thud. Just then, dazzling fireworks burst across the night sky outside the bar. "Another young heir showing off for a girl?" "It's that guy who just left, the aloof Freddy from Northbury. He filled the entire Southridge sky with fireworks tonight, just because Ms. Warren likes them. Who would've thought even a man as cold as him would fall for someone?" Hazel listened to the chatter around her. Her heart was too numb to ache anymore. She wiped her tears while forcing a bitter smile. If Freddy no longer saw her as his sister in this lifetime, then so be it. They'd be strangers from now on. She was leaving soon anyway.