I WANT YOU BACK

Chapter 4

HAZEL

“ What are these? Did Zaide really get them for me?” I was in utter disbelief.

“ Why don’t you open it and find out yourself?” He smiled. I was confused but either way, I took the shopping bags and thanked the butler.

I unpacked the bags and everything in each bag was simply gorgeous. I found a stunning black dinner gown, a pair of designer heels and jewelry. Just then a message popped into my phone. It was a text from Zaide, I wasn’t sure I wanted to open it now though.

“ Why are you staring so blankly?” I felt a head beside mine. “ What does it say?”

“ You frightened me for a second. Who sneaks up behind someone like that?” I turned to look at Lisa who had cuddled her way up to my side.

“ It’s not my fault though, I’m just a curious girl,” she shrugged. “ Anyway, what does it say?” She bugged me.

“ I haven’t read his text yet,” I finally said.

“ What? Are you for real right now?” She was surprised that I was yet to read it. I thought I might be eager to open his text but I was honestly scared of getting disappointed.

“ Buying me things out of the blue and sending me a text personally… It’s seems too good to be true,” I explained my reasons.

“ But he sent you a dinner gown and jewelry, it definitely means something,” she insinuated. “ Maybe he’s had a change of mind and wants to ask you out to dinner,” she was full of wild imaginations.

“ I doubt Zaide would ever do that,” I mumbled. Even though I knew Zaide would never acknowledge me, I hoped deep down that he really had asked me to dinner.

“ Stop being such a killjoy and open the text,” she pushed me to read it.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the text and read it’s contents with my eyes. The initial glow and sparkle of hope in my eyes went dim.

“ Why the sudden moodiness?” Millie asked.

“ Zaide wants me to get ready so we can meet his parents tonight. Looks like they’ve called for us,” I stood up and picked up the bags. “ I better head upstairs and get dressed. Zaide wouldn’t be pleased if he came and I kept him waiting,” I said, my words dry even to myself.

“ I’ll help you with your makeup,” Millie volunteered and I simply nodded my head. I was the fool for getting my hopes up, maybe I needed this reality check. It’s better to crush these feelings now before they get out of hand.

As the evening went by and time flew past, I grew increasingly nervous. Zaide had said he would be here to pick me up by six, but it was now well past that time.

Was he really preoccupied with work? Maybe he could just reschedule our meeting with his parents?

“ Are you nervous?” Millie walked up beside me.

“ Somewhat,” I nodded. “ It’s the first time I’m meeting his parents in a non-formal setting, if I could call this dinner that,” I sighed. I had only met his parents before we got married and after the first month of our marriage so it was a bit nerve-wracking now.

“ While we wait for Zaide to arrive, I should probably take it up on myself to say this since I know Zaide won’t,” she sighed before turning to me. “ You look gorgeous, Hazel,” she smiled warmly. Everything from her words to her smile was all too sincere.

“ Thank you,” I smiled with tears gathered in my eyes.

“ D-do you want to cry?” She panicked for a second on seeing my reaction.

“ It’s been a while since someone other than my sister complimented me sincerely like this,” I smiled to myself. “ So thank you,” I repeated.

“ I can’t believe no one has told you just how pretty you are,” she grumbled.

“ You’re really pretty and I’m more surprised how no one has told you before,” she was somewhat in disbelief.

It’s not that I haven’t heard people say that I’m pretty but it was mostly boys in highschool and college who just wanted to get into my pants or suck up to me. In any case, I never believed a word they said because I was used to being treated as the lesser one so I naturally assumed that I was an eye sore.

In a few minutes, Zaide arrived with his escort of black cars.

“ Since you’ve gotten ready, let’s go,” he said the moment he stepped into the house and noticed me.

“ Alright,” I nodded my head.

As usual our ride to his parents’ house was as quiet as ever and heavy with tension.

“ As long as you don’t say anything uncalled for, you won’t need to worry yourself about my parents,” he said randomly amidst the silence. Was he being considerate right now?

“ Alright,” I nodded my head. I should stop assuming things so randomly, he was just letting me know, nothing more.

Getting to his parents’ private estate, we took at the dining table as dinner was being served.

“ You look really pretty,” his mom, Rosalie smiled at me.

“ Thank you, ma’am,” I bowed my head slightly.

“ I’m your mother-in-law, not your employer so there’s no need to be formal with me or my husband,” she corrected me.

“ Thank you for having me,” I bowed my head slightly.

We were led to the dining room and once we were seated, the maids went ahead to start serving dinner, starting off with some wine.

“ You and mom seem to be doing fine,” Zaide said to them quietly as he sipped from his glass.

“ Well, we’re doing this fine because your older sisters are keeping us stress free,” his mom retorted.

“ What did I do this time?” He was aware that he had done something to bother his parents.

“ I and your mom planned on discussing it with you about a month or two ago but chose to give you some more time to heal,” his dad said.

“ We know how much you loved Scarlett but she’s been dead for six months and it’s about time you move on… well, at least to the point where you can have a child,” she heaved. “ You have a wife now whether you like it or not and you chose her, not us. It’s about time you get serious with your life and have a child of your own,” she said nearly aggressively.

“ Whatever I do with my life is none of your concern. If you think I’d have a child with someone like her, then think again!” He raised his voice and I shuddered in fear.

“ Zaide! Don’t you raise your voice on your mother,” his dad called him to order.

“ And if you want this dinner to go peacefully, I would advice we drop this topic,” he stared at his father, giving him a warning glare.

Dinner went quietly from then on and I could barely stomach my food with the tension hanging heavy in the air.

I was glad when dinner ended, at least then I could go outside to take in fresh air.

“ Mind taking a walk with me?” I heard Rosalie’s voice from behind me. She smiled warmly and though I had planned to enjoy my alone time, I couldn’t turn her down.

We took a stroll through the paved path in the courtyard - it was quiet, yet a comfortable silence.

“ It’s pretty at night, isn’t it?” I asked her to break the silence once we got to a garden I hadn’t expected to see.

“ Yes, it is,” she stood beside me.

“ Irene, how would you like your freedom?” She said randomly and I turned to look at her.

“ W-what do you mean?” I stuttered.

“ How would you like to make an exchange? A grandchild for your freedom?”