Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Chapter 40

HAZEL

(PRESENT TIME)

I found myself reluctantly agreeing to a dinner date with Ravel, unsure of what his intentions were. It had been a week since the press conference where he admitted that he cheated on me and not the other way round. Ravel can be stubborn which is why I’m not surprised that he went ahead with the press conference even after my advice. I didn’t know why he wanted to meet me, but a part of me was curious to see what he had to say, besides, I feel he deserves a dinner with me after what he just did.

As I arrived at the restaurant, my heart raced with a mix of nerves and anticipation. Ravel was already there, sitting at a corner table with a warm smile on his face. It was a smile that once made my heart sk ip a beat, but now, I couldn’t trust its sincerity.

“Good to see you,” he greeted me as I approached the table. “You look stunning, as always.” His compliments had a way of disarming me, but I reminded myself to remain cautious.

“Thank you,” I replied with a small smile. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

He hesitated for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. “I wanted to talk about David,” he began.

“I’ve seen the way he treats you, and I can’t help but worry about you. He doesn’t deserve someone as amazing as you, Hazel.”

I raised an eyebrow, not expecting him to bring up David. “You’ve been spying on me?” I asked with a hint of annoyance.

He chuckled nervously. “Not exactly,” he said. “But I can’t help but notice things. It’s hard not to when I still care about you.”

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and nostalgia. “Ravel, we’re not together anymore,” I reminded him firmly. “My relationship with David is none of your concern.”

Tknow,” he said, his gaze intense. “But I can’t help but worry. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

I softened slightly, realizing that he might genuinely be concerned. “I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself,” I replied. “David and I have our ups and downs, like any couple, but I’m not ready to give up on our relationship just because things are challenging right now.”

“I understand,” he said, nodding slowly. “But I can’t shake the feeling that he’s not the right person for you.”

I frowned, feeling conflicted. Ravel had a way of getting under my skin, and his words still held power over me. “Why are you telling me all this now?” I asked, trying to understand his motives.

He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. “Because I miss you,” he admitted softly. “I miss us, Hazel. I can’t help. but wonder if we made a mistake by breaking up.”

My jaw clenched. “If you want this dinner to continue, you’ll have to stop talking about the possibility of us getting back together.”

Ravel nodded reluctantly. “I’m sorry for bringing it up.”

As we continued our dinner conversation, engrossed in our own world of emotions and uncertainties, I didn’t notice the arrival of an unexpected visitor until it was too late. Ravel’s mother, Mrs. Anne, stood there with an astonished expression on her face, her eyes fixed on us at the corner table.

“Hazel, what on earth are you doing here?” she demanded, her tone laced with disdain and disapproval. Her unexpected appearance caught me off guard, and I felt a flush of embarrassment rise to my cheeks.

Ravel glanced at his mother, a mix of annoyance and determination crossing his features. “Mother, please, not now,” he urged, trying to shield me from her judgment.

Mrs. Anne paid no heed to her son’s request, and her eyes never left me. “I thought we made it clear that you should stay

Chapter 40

away from my son,” she said coldly. “You are nothing but trouble, and he deserves better than you.”

Her words stung, and I felt my composure waver. “Mrs. Anne, I understand your concerns,” I replied, trying to maintain my poise. “But Ravel and I are adults, and we can make our own choices.”

“You’re nothing more than a distraction,” she sneered, her voice carrying a hint of venom. “You’ll only drag him down, and I won’t let that happen.”

Ravel’s patience seemed to wane as he couldn’t bear to see me humiliated. “Mother, enough,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Hazel is not a distraction, and she’s certainly not dragging me down. I care about her, and I won’t let you insult her.”

Mrs. Anne seemed taken aback by Ravel’s defiance, but she quickly regained her composure. “You’re making a big mistake, Ravel,” she warned, her voice cold and resolute. “She’s not right for you.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Ravel retorted, his voice unwavering.

The tension between mother and son was palpable, and I felt like an unwelcome intruder in their family feud. Sensing the awkwardness, I decided to intervene.

“Mrs. Anne, I respect your opinion, but Ravel and I need to figure things out on our own,” I said firmly, trying to convey my determination. “We’ll take responsibility for our choices.” I’m no longer that young lady she intimidated years back.

Mrs. Anne’s icy stare remained fixed on me, but she said nothing more. With a last disdainful glance, she turned and walked away, leaving us in a cloud of tension.

Ravel let out a sigh of frustration, and I reached out to hold his hand, offering a small smile. “Thank you for standing up for me,” I said quietly. He has always been like that, which was one of the reason I loved him and tried to fight for our marriage.

I couldn’t shake off the awkwardness of Mrs. Anne’s unexpected appearance which made me feel uncomfortable. “I think it’s getting late,” I said, my voice soft yet determined. “I should probably head home.”

Ravel looked disappointed but understood my need to leave. “Of course,” he replied, trying to hide his disappointment. “Let me walk you to your car.”

As we made our way out of the restaurant, the cool night air did little to case the tension between us.

We walked in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. When we finally reached my car, Ravel turned to face me, a conflicted expression on his face.

“I don’t want this night to end,” he admitted, taking a step closer to me.

“It has to,” I replied, trying to keep my emotions in check. If I don’t leave, I meant begin to feel things I’m not suppose to feel. “it’s for the best. I need to get back to Seattle tomorrow morning and you have work tomorrow too.”

Before I could react, Ravel leaned in, attempting to kiss me. My instincts took over, and without thinking, I brought my hand up, delivering a sharp slap across his cheek.

“What was that for?” he exclaimed, holding his check in shock.

“I told you, Ravel,” said firmly, my voice tinged with anger and hurt. “don’t try to bring any emotion or our past into this dinner. You can’t just kiss me and expect everything to be fine.”

His expression softened as he realized his mistake. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice filled with regret. “I didn’t mean to push you. It’s just… I can’t help how I feel.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have showed up. “Goodnight Ravel.” I got into my car and drove away