Chapter 74
“Who’s the father of your kid’s, Hazel?” Ethan asked softl
Hazel was visibly take aback.
His question lingered in the air.
Hazel felt a surge of emotions, a mixture of surprise, anxiety, and a flicker of something deeper that she struggled to name.
The father of my kids,” Hazel echoed slowly, the weight of the unanticipated question settling in the air. The idea of Ethan finding his way back into their lives hadn’t crossed her mind. She certainly hadn’t imagined having to address this question from him one day. “Hazel?” He called snapping her out of her trail of thoughts. She met the searching look in his eyes, he was waiting intently for an answer.
The father of my kids, he’s staring at me right now. You’re the father, Ethan. But the words. remained locked within her. She couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“Why are you so curious about him, Ethan?” she finally responded in a low tone, her voice carrying a touch of defensiveness.
Taking a deep sigh, he continued, “It sounded like you were alone, you and your kids. Like they were all you have. Also, I’ve never heard the kids mention a dad.”
A heavy silence enveloped them, as if the room held its breath, witnessing the unearthing of long–buried questions.
“The man at the airport, he isn’t their father, I know that,” Ethan stated firmly, his unwavering.
gaze
“What man?” Hazel asked, her expression partly confused, a tinge of surprise coloring her features.
“That day I met you at the airport,” he responded, prompting Hazel to revisit a particular memory. “The man you were with. Nathan.” He jogged her memory with a touch of hesitancy.
You investigated me?!” Hazel’s voice raised a notch, a mix of shock and indignation coloring
her words
“Hazel.” Ethan muttered, his tone tinged with guilt. The admission hung in the air, acknowledging that he had indeed delved into her life.
The man Hazel met upon her return to the country wasn’t her husband, nor did he to be the father of her kids. So who was?
appear
“Why would you do such a thing?! My kids have nothing to do with you. They’re no business of yours, Ethan. How could you go behind me, poking around my life?!” Hazel’s words, fueled by a combination of frustration and a fierce protectiveness over her family, reverberated through the charged atmosphere. That was why she had felt watched the first few days upon retuning to the city. She could feel someone watching her and her kids. That was Fihan! The thought infuriated her.
She had no idea but Ethan had done even much worse.
Im sorry. I needed to be sure. I shouldn’t have Hazel. I’m really sorry, Ethan admitted, his apology hanging in the air.
Hazel sighed, the weight of Ethan’s admission settling around them. Discovering that
Nathan wasn’t their father wouldn’t have taken much research anyway, it wasn’t a guarded. secret. However, Ethan’s intrusion into her life unsettled her
“It’s not like it was a secret, but you have no right to look into me and my kids, she retorted. her words drawing a clear line. She was grateful to him and all, but that was one thing she wasn’t going to take, digging up things about her
“You returned to the country suddenly, years after being hidden. I couldn’t help but be curious. I initially thought the man with you was your husband and your kids father, but then I found out he isn’t. It didn’t matter, but when you mentioned being alone. I couldn’t help but wonder. That’s why. He admitted.
The kids, Hazel, who is he? where is their father
“He’s not part of our lives,” she stated, a declaration that resonated with both finality and a tinge of lingering emotion.
“How come? He didn’t know you were pregnant Ethan inquired, his silent frustration palpable, simmering beneath the surface.
– No. He didn’t know, and you still don’t know, she mumbled inwardly, a silent admission echoing in the recesses of her thoughts.
“He didn’t want them. Hazel disclosed, her words revealing a layer of pain and acceptance, Yet, within the confines of her mind, she couldn’t escape the echo: you didn’t want them.
What?!” Ethan’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.
“Hazel,” he mumbled softly.his tone sympathetic. The realization settling in. Hazel had indeed been alone. It left a bitter taste on his tongue
“How couldn’t he? A massive jerk he is!” Ethan stated angrily, his frustration finding a voice. “He’s married,” she revealed further, the admission hanging in the air.
-You’re married, Ethan,her thoughts echoed.
“Married?” Ethan questioned quietly
“Yes. So they’re all mine. My responsibility. I’m their mom and their dad as well,” she declared, her voice carrying the weight of both pride and vulnerability.
“So have I been alone? Yes. I’ve been alone,” she added, drawing in a shaky breath.
Glancing at Ethan, she clarified; “I don’t need sympathy. They’re the greatest things I’ve ever had,” she asserted, a smile gracing her lips even as her eyes betrayed the depth of emotion, tears brimming on the precipice.
“Before
my kids. I’ve never had anyone or anything to really call my own.
She couldn’t even find her mate. He husband rejected and didn’t want her. But she had her own kids now.
“For that, I’m grateful. And if I’ll be honest, I’m grateful their dad’s not in the picture. Yes, I’m selfish,” she asserted.
I know,” she finished, the weight of her journey carried in those two simple words.
“It’s okay to be selfish sometimes. You did a great job, Hazel, all on your own,” Ethan reassured her, his words laced with genuine admiration for the resilience she displayed.
He has no idea what he’s missed out on, Hazel. Your kids are lovely,” Ethan stated honestly.
Hazel turned away, blinking back tears that threatened to betray the emotional depth of the conversation. Ethan’s praise, her lies became overwhelming threatening to break her resolve
Nathan wasn’t their father wouldn’t have taken much research anyway; it wasn’t a guarded secret. However, Ethan’s intrusion into her life unsettled her.
“It’s not like it was a secret, but you have no right to look into me and my kids,” she retorted, her words drawing a clear line. She was grateful to him and all, but that was one thing she wasn’t going to take, digging up things about her.
“You returned to the country suddenly, years after being hidden. I couldn’t help but be curious. I initially thought the man with you was your husband and your kids‘ father, but then I found out he isn’t. It didn’t matter, but when you mentioned being alone, I couldn’t help but wonder. That’s why.” He admitted.
“The kids, Hazel, who is he? where is their father?”
“He’s not part of our lives,” she stated, a declaration that resonated with both finality and at tinge of lingering emotion.
“How come? He didn’t know you were pregnant?! Ethan inquired, his silent frustration palpable, simmering beneath the surface.
– No. He didn’t know, and you still don’t know, she mumbled inwardly, a silent admission echoing in the recesses of her thoughts.
“He didn’t want them,” Hazel disclosed, her words revealing a layer of pain and acceptance. Yet, within the confines of her mind, she couldn’t escape the echo: you didn’t want them.
What?!” Ethan’s eyes widened in genuine surprise,
“Hazel,” he mumbled softly, his tone sympathetic. The realization settling in, Hazel had indeed been alone. It left a bitter taste on his tongue
“How couldn’t he? A massive jerk he is!” Ethan stated angrily, his frustration finding a voice.
“He’s married,” she revealed further, the admission hanging in the air.
-You’re married, Ethan,her thoughts echoed.
“Married?” Ethan questioned quietly
“Yes. So they’re all mine. My responsibility. I’m their mom and their dad as well,” she declared, her voice carrying the weight of both pride and vulnerability.
“So have I been alone? Yes. I’ve been alone,” she added, drawing in a shaky breath.
Glancing at Ethan, she clarified; “I don’t need sympathy. They’re the greatest things I’ve ever had,” she asserted, a smile gracing her lips even as her eyes betrayed the depth of emotion, tears brimming on the precipice.
“Before my kids, I’ve never had anyone or anything to really call my own.”
She couldn’t even find her mate. He husband rejected and didn’t want her. But she had her own kids now.
“For that, I’m grateful. And if I’ll be honest, I’m grateful their dad’s not in the picture. Yes, I’m selfish,” she asserted.
I know,” she finished, the weight of her journey carried in those two simple words. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes. You did a great job, Hazel, all on your own,” Ethan reassured her, his words laced with genuine admiration for the resilience she displayed. He has no idea what he’s missed out on, Hazel. Your kids are lovely,” Ethan stated honestly. Hazel turned away, blinking back tears that threatened to betray the emotional depth of the conversation. Ethan’s praise, her lies became overwhelming threatening to break her
resolve
