Unexpected Marriage With Mr. Leighton: Rebirth of the Villain-Chapter 145: A REWARD FOR HAZEL

This marriage felt very real to her. All the kisses they shared, the intimate moments they spent together in the evenings, and the undeniable attention and affection they showed to each other.

In this moment, with the two of them joking around in the kitchen and sharing a box of cake, it was hard to remember that their marriage was based on a contract that they agreed upon.

Hazel found herself becoming increasingly comfortable with Ranon’s presence, allowing herself to indulge in this newfound serenity.

Yet, she was acutely aware that this peace was temporary, and the hesitation crept in again.

’No, don’t get too comfortable,’ she cautioned herself silently. It would be hard when everything fell apart, and she didn’t want to face that truth when it came time to do so.

But at that moment, holding the rich chocolate cake and engaging in their playful banter, she couldn’t help but savor the sweetness of their fleeting happiness.

***

The second time Carl regained consciousness, the memories flooded back to him like a tidal wave. He spotted his mother, Amelia, by his side, and a rush of anger ignited within him.

"Fuck you! Get out! I don’t want to see you! Get out of here!" He screamed, his voice laced with fury.

Thankfully, James had just finished a meeting and was on the phone with his lawyer about the divorce proceedings with Laurel when the commotion reached his ears. He immediately rushed into the room.

"What happened here?" James asked, fury radiating from his voice. He was already in a foul mood, and the last thing he wanted was to have another confrontation and problem.

Amelia rushed to James, clutching him tightly, desperation written across her face. She was terrified of Carl’s unpredictable outbursts.

On the other hand, Carl was thrashing on his bed, throwing anything he could get his hands on, his IV drip swinging wildly as the needle popped out from his skin.

"Stop this! What are you doing?!" James shouted as he pushed Amelia to the side and approached his son with long strides. "Amelia, call for a doctor and a nurse!"

James turned his attention back to Carl, trying to physically restrain him from throwing more objects. As the anger poured from Carl, his words cut deep, "She cheated on you! She cheated on you with another man! Both of you are cheaters! I saw it with my own eyes!"

Carl’s accusation stopped James dead in his tracks. He stared at his son in utter disbelief, his mind racing. "What are you talking about?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper, struggling to comprehend the enormity of what he had just heard.

"She cheated on you!" Carl repeated harshly.

James shook his head fervently, refusing to entertain the thought. "No way. That’s not possible," he insisted, brow furrowed, and his frustration turned to denial.

The notion that Amelia could betray him like that was unthinkable. After everything he had done for her, she wouldn’t have the guts to do that..., right?

The atmosphere in the room was very thick, and the tension was depressing.

Not long after, Amelia returned with a doctor and nurses. They were ready to sedate Carl once again. He was still thrashing violently, refusing to submit to their attempts to calm him down.

James felt a sense of helplessness wash over him as he witnessed how his son struggled against two nurses, who tried to hold him down.

Carl shot him a furious glare, filled with accusation, as if blaming his father for everything that had gone wrong.

This moment felt like the worst nightmare that would haunt James indefinitely. It wasn’t long before the sedative took effect, and Carl finally fell into a deep sleep, the medication rendering him unconscious.

The medical staff quickly applied a new IV drip to his arm and tended to his wounds.

Though the entire ordeal was over within twenty minutes, to James it felt like an eternity. He couldn’t shake the image of his son in distress.

And amidst this chaos, James couldn’t help but think of Laurel, how she would have known what to say or do to reach Carl.

Their relationship had always been close, and James understood that Carl viewed Laurel as a mother, his real mother.

Once Carl was stabilized, Amelia approached James, her hand patting his back gently, an attempt to offer comfort. "Now you can see why I am so concerned and why I keep pushing for him to go to rehabilitation," she said, her voice steady despite what Carl just said.

She did not falter at all when Carl accused her of infidelity in front of James.

James listened as she continued her monologue about Carl’s needs, but his thoughts swirled in an entirely different direction.

Finally, once Amelia paused, he asked a question that had been gnawing at him since Carl’s outburst. "Did you cheat on me?"

Amelia looked taken aback, blinking rapidly in disbelief. "What do you mean?" She replied; the question caught her off guard. But the realization hit her as she shifted her focus to Carl. "That’s what Carl told you. See? I told you he was hallucinating. He has been through so much, and when he wakes up, he can’t distinguish reality from his imagination."

James didn’t look convinced, but Amelia was very gentle and patient with him. She approached him and hugged him.

"There’s no way I would cheat on you. I want our family back so badly. I want you and Carl." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Her response was calm, and it left James feeling confused.

"I know my mistakes, and I know I deserve everything I am going through," Amelia continued; her tone was earnest. "Even if you are still conflicted about how you feel towards me, I am willing to wait for you because I believe I deserve this second chance."

James felt this doubt arise within him. Amelia’s reaction to the accusation and rationale clashed with Carl’s harsh accusations, leaving him in a state of bewilderment.

Could he trust her words? Was Carl truly hallucinating, or was there a hidden truth lurking beneath the surface?

James struggled to decipher whom he could truly believe in in this chaos.

However, the next thing they knew, Carl managed to escape from the hospital the third time he regained his consciousness.

The young man realized his outburst would only portray him in a bad light; he had learned from his mistakes.

Because the moment he opened his eyes, he found Amelia was sleeping next to his bed on a visitor bed.

The sight enraged him. It didn’t take a genius to deduce that his father didn’t believe him and that Amelia had likely manipulated the truth to her advantage. That was why, despite him telling his father the truth, she remained in his presence.

Carl felt his resolve harden.

With determination, Carl crept away from the hospital, fleeing from that place with only a few bucks in his pocket and a jacket on his shoulders. He got the money from Amelia’s purse.

***

At home, Hazel was in the kitchen, making dinner for Ranon. This time she wasn’t preparing prawns; instead, she was experimenting with a dish she loved: lamb chops.

Despite her uncertainty about whether her version would taste as good as the ones from that restaurant, she took pride in her cooking efforts.

As it turned out, she liked cooking. She had never explored this part of her since she didn’t have enough time to do so.

She cut her enemies more than she cut vegetables on the chopping board.

Ranon joined her, assisting in the kitchen, and needless to say, Hazel truly enjoyed this moment. This peaceful life felt like a dream, one that someone like River wouldn’t dare to imagine.

When Ranon returned home, he would shower her with affection, kissing the crown of her head, and they would sit down to dinner together, discussing random topics, yet always circling back to their future child.

As they were talking about a preparation to check on the gender of their baby during Hazel’s next appointment, a sudden kick against her rib jolted her.

Ranon quickly noticed, instinctively moving to massage her back, which brought her some relief. "The baby is kicking again?"

"Yeah," she replied.

"Drink some water," he suggested, setting down his cutlery to pour a glass of water for her.

"What else do you want?" He asked, a playful glint in his eyes as he handed her the glass.

"What? What do you mean?" Hazel replied; she drank the water and the half-empty glass down.

"It must be hard for you to get kicked all the time. I think you need... a reward," he added.

Hazel let out a laugh at the absurdity of it all. "So, I will get a reward just because I have been kicked? Something like that?" She teased, her eyes lighting up with mischief.

"Yes. Anything you want." Ranon stood up and then tied up her hair into a simple bun on top of her head. He used the hair tie around his wrist to keep it together.

At first, Hazel didn’t realize it, but now she noticed that Ranon would have a hair tie around his wrist. He used it like an accessory.

"Anything, huh? Even if it sounds ridiculous?" Hazel pressed, her playful spirit shining through.

"Especially if it’s ridiculous. Let’s hear it." Ranon tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

With a gleam of mischief in her eyes, she began to formulate an answer, enjoying their lighthearted conversation in a moment that felt blissfully free from the problem surrounding them.