Hazel's Redemption

LET'S LIVE TOGETHER IN HARMONY

"You...what are you doing?"

Ivy and Ethan weren't really doing anything bad, but in Hazel's eyes, it was more than just a bad action. Her father probably thought the same when he saw the two holding hands. Hazel didn't want to make her father worried and risk harming his health, but she'll rather not keep the secret from him forever. If today he had to know the truth, then so be it.

"F....father what are you doing here?", Ivy said and it was clear that she was nervous, because she immediately withdrew her hand from that of Ethan.

Ivy didn't, and had never really considered Hazel as a family, but she seemed to be a little scared to leave a bad impression on Mr. Edgard. Perharps it was respect or just the fear of losing a legacy from him. As an illegitimate daughter, she could easily lose that right, but it wasn't much a problem because Ethan would always sponsor her. Perharps her real fear was losing to Hazel or maybe there was more to it than an eye could tell.

"I'm asking you a question, why are you here ?", Mr. Edgard emphasized in his question, losing patience, but Ivy was so nervous and panick to think of a lie immediately.

"Mr. Edgard, Ivy and I...", Ethan tried to speak but was immediately stopped by Ivy with a gesture. He didn't mind letting Mr. Edgard know the truth so he can marry Ivy as soon as possible, but Ivy seemed really reluctant which made him stop, but a little puzzled, though.

'Damn it, why is this old fogey here at this moment?'

Ivy cursed and glanced at Hazel with hopes that she helped her from this trouble, but Hazel didn't even look at her way, as if she didn't really care what happened in the next few minutes. Her indifference made Ivy grit her teeth, she would tear Hazel apart if she could, but she couldn't and she had to maintain her composure beside Ethan.

"Sister, you....", Ivy spoke, sounding Hazel out, but Hazel s gave her a cold shoulder.

"Dad asked you a question, and you're big enough to reply, why are you scared?"

"No...that's..."

"Unless you did something bad..."

'Hazel,you b***h!'

Ivy cursed Hazel inwardly, but Mr. Edgard was still waiting for his answer and of course Hazel wouldn't help her and she couldn't let Ethan help her yet, at least, not now.

"Dad...."

"Ivy, you're here!", Emily came out from no where, wrapping her hands arround Ivy in a friendly gesture.

"I've been looking for you, I just told you to ask brother for some help, but you took so long that I was worried. So has brother given you enough advice for the project...?"

"I...Yes, brother in-law did help me a lot, but his advice gave me such inspiration that I didn't watch time, sorry I kept you waiting."

"It's fine, we can still.... oh Mr. Edgard is here as well.", It was really funny as Emily had helped Ivy perfectly well, they were indeed very cooperative when it came to bringing out an act. But Hazel wasn't surprise, as an apprentice of Ivy, it was just normal. But it was sad that Emily was just pawn to Ivy, but she was too naive to understand it.

"Yes, I came here to visit my eldest daughter, but I didn't know Mrs. Emily had called my youngest daughter for help."

"Yeah, sorry if we hadn't informed you yet, but it was urgent and sister in-law was busy and I didn't want to bother her, so I invited Ivy here."

"I see, I guess I worried too much."

Mr. Edgard sighed

"Come with me father, let's relax in the garden.", Hazel said, finally ignoring the scene that had just occurred at that moment. But she could see the mischievous smile of victory on Ivy's face. It wasn't new to her, but she was sad that Ivy always got away with her schemes.

"Have a sit dad?", Hazel helped her father sit comfortably, then she took a sit beside him.

"How have you been father, hope you always take your drugs in time?"

"You don't have to worry about me, I still have your younger sister to look over me."

"I see.", Hazel said with a expression, though she was relieved that Ivy didn't treat her father badly, she still had that certain uneasiness that she couldn't understand.

"Are you mad at me?", Mr. Edgard abruptly said.

"No dad, why do you think so."

"But you should, afterall, it is my fault. I destroyed our happy family the day I let Tara bring in Ivy, but you understand that I can't blame Ivy for it. She was just the victim of my error, if I hadn't been careless that night, Tara wouldn't have taken advantage of it."

It was indeed that careless night that changed Hazel's life. She didn't clearly know what happened that night, but Ivy was conceived.

But she believed that it was all planned by Tara, her father's alcohol tolerance wasn't that low, she probably did something. But after giving birth to Ivy, she never came to him, only after seven years. Hazel could still remember that day as if it was yesterday. She was barely eight and it was raining heavily when she came back from school and met Tara quarelling with her father.

Ivy was standing not far from there, with her eyes, void of emotions and dressed shabily. It was clear that her mother hadn't taken good care of her. She never loved her either, but used her as a means to extort six million from Hazel's father.

'Six million, am I just worth six million.'

Hazel could remember the few words Ivy had murmured at that moment. She didn't quite understand what she meant that day, but she just thought the child was quite pitiful and she tried her best to make her feel the warmth of a family.

Though Hazel's mother had tried to ignore the pain each time she saw Ivy, she couldn't hide the fact that it hurt her and at the end, Mrs. Edgard couldn't bare it any longer and ended up leaving when Hazel was just twelve.

But she never abandoned Hazel, Mrs. Edgard had wanted to take Hazel along with her, but Hazel couldn't leave her father. Though he had another daughter with another woman, she couldn't blame him.

Soon after, her parents divorced and her mother came from time to time to visit Hazel, she only left two years for her modeling career and had never returned since then, perhaps one day she will, by will Hazel still be alive by then, she couldn't be sure.

It's been so many years since then,but Mr. Edgard had always blamed himself for destroying their so much lovely family.

Life still continued and Hazel loved and cared for Ivy so much that Ivy became her first priority. Little did she know, the one she had indulged with love, would end up stabbing her heart each time. And she could only ask herself one question.

'Was it wrong to have loved her?'

That question lingered in her mind, but she couldn't still help wonder where she had gone wrong.

"Hazel.", Mr.Edgard snapped her out of her thoughts, he looked worried, perhaps still guilty about what had happened long ago.

"It's fine daddy, it isn't your fault...."

'It's our fault for having a weak heart.'. Hazel though in her mind, not letting her father become part of her inner most thoughts, where her most painful thoughts floated.

"But I still think I owe you and your mother a lot, still you..."

"You don't need to worry about us, dad. I'm sure mum doesn't blame you."

"Do you think so?"

"Sure!"

"Well, my dear daughter has grown.up a lot, I guess I don't need to worry about you any longer. You have a husband now and soon you'll have your own children."

Her father's words looked so beautiful, but they all carried a heavy irony that burdened her heart.

"Well, I will be out of the country for business, I only came for a fair well."

"Dad, are you really traveling?"

Ivy said, as soon as she arrived carrying a tray containing glasses of soft drinks. When did she arrive, no one could tell, but she probably wanted to put another act, an act of a loving daughter.

"Yes, I have a business trip in H country."

"Then... are you going to be away for long?"

"Perharps, a month."

"But...that's long, I'm going to be so lonely without you and I'm going to miss you so much."

Her coffee brown eyes were suddenly filled with tears, but it disgusted Hazel how Ivy could act and still look so pitiful. She was obviously happy that Mr. Edgard was leaving, probably because there was a motive behind it.

"What are you talking about, how can you be lonely with Hazel arround?"

"But Hazel has her life, I can't demand her to come live with me, isn't that bad for brother in-law?"

Such hypocrisy was really outrageous, now she called him brother in-law, acting pitiful, but later on flirt with him.

"That...well, how about....", Mr. Edgard said and hesitated a little. But Hazel understood what he had in mind, through Ivy's schemes. Though she perceived through her scheme this time, yet she couldn't still do anything against it, apart from acquiescing.

"I understand what you mean, dad."

"Well, then it's settled, Ivy would stay with you till I'm back from my business trip. Hope you can live together in harmony."

"Yes sis, let's live together in harmony.", Ivy said, smiling that same disgust smile of victory. She had indeed gotten two victories in a day and Hazel couldn't do anything against it. It was like stand in a goal, having the opportunity to block the balls from penetrating her pole, yet unable to catch a single ball.

And about living together in harmony, it was certainly impossible. As long as Ivy was arround, there was bound to be no harmony, not to mention.

'Peace....'