At that instant, Hazel’s face darkened. “Andrew!”
She grabbed my wrist tightly, her grip sharp with pain. “He’s my cousin—he’s going to be part of our family. Can’t you be a little more understanding?”
I scoffed and yanked my arm free. “Who said I’m part of your family?”
Her pupils contracted like she’d been slapped. “You’re being ridiculous! All this over a watch? Dylan only borrowed it once! You’ve got enough luxury watches to fill an entire cabinet—what’s wrong with lending him one?”
Right on cue, Dylan’s eyes turned red, his voice catching with emotion. “Hazel, don’t say that. Andrew has always looked down on me... He’s right. I’m not worthy...”
I didn’t bother watching their little performance, and turned to leave. “I said no. That’s final.”
Back in my room, I pulled the blanket over my head and tried to sleep.
But the dizziness from being reborn still churned in my mind, until a shrill phone ring jolted me awake.
“Sir!” My assistant’s panicked voice came through the receiver.
“Miss Hazel brought Mr. Mendez and barged into the villa! I tried to stop them, but the bodyguards all listened to her!”
I shot up from the bed.
The memory of being kidnapped in my previous life flashed before my eyes.
Back then, the bodyguards who were supposed to protect me also followed Hazel without hesitation—leaving me alone with the kidnappers.
When I stormed into the villa, one of the bodyguards dared to step in front of me.
“Sir Andrew, Miss Hazel gave strict orders—no one is allowed to disturb them.”
Slap!
I struck him across the face with full force.
“You take my salary, but follow her orders?” My entire body trembled with rage. “Get out—now!”
I shoved open the inner room’s doors—and the sight before me made my blood run cold.
Steam curled in the air above the hot spring pool. Dylan leaned weakly against the edge, his cheeks unnaturally flushed.
“Hazel... I feel dizzy...”
Before he could finish, his body slumped forward, sliding toward the deeper end of the spring.
Hazel plunged into the water, her long arms wrapping around his shoulders, pulling him up.
Water streamed down her soaked white shirt, trickling over Dylan’s bare chest and pooling at his open collar.
“Hazel,” I said coldly, cutting through the mist and drama, “I told you—you’re not welcome here.”
She froze while Dylan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, wet bangs clinging to his forehead.
“Andrew!” Panic flashed in her eyes, but was quickly replaced by anger.
“Must you be so unreasonable? He nearly fainted! Can’t you show a shred of kindness?”
Suddenly, Dylan tore away from her grip, stumbling to his knees in front of me.
He slammed his forehead against the tiled floor. “I’m sorry, Young Master! This is all my fault!”
Blood streamed from his temple.
Then he lurched forward, grabbing at my pant leg—only to suddenly fall backward into the water like he had been shoved.
He thrashed violently. “Help! I’m cramping—!”
Hazel dove back in to drag him out. As they stumbled ashore, her gaze turned sharp with disgust.
“Andrew, you’re utterly heartless!”
She shoved me—hard.
With a loud bang, my back slammed into the pool’s stone edge. A dull pain bloomed instantly.
“If you keep treating Dylan like this...” she said icily, supporting his trembling body, “I won’t marry you.”
I watched them walk away.
Dripping wet, I crawled out of the pool and shouted, “Every bodyguard on duty today—you're fired!”
As I changed clothes, my assistant came running in, face flushed with excitement.
“Young Master! We’ve found a lead on Eleanor!”
Without hesitation, I jumped into the car and raced toward Sapphire Village.
The mountain roads, battered by the storm, were a mess of mud and broken branches. My SUV nearly skidded off the cliff multiple times.
Just as I finally arrived and began to settle in at the town inn—a pair of hands suddenly grabbed me.
