CHAPTER 8

    HAZEL'S POV;

    Some of the maids have taken a liking to me. Theresa is one of the maids who I became friends with and I'm surprised. I mean, not everyone likes me and then she's all supportive whenever I need her. 

    There's a dining chair in the room and she takes a seat beside me. She's holding two bowls. One containing chicken soup and the other containing boiled, mashed potatoes. My favorite. 

    "What happened?" She asks.

    Pulling the bowl towards me, I shrug. "Well, I was asked to leave the dining room by Onyx. I had no option,"

    "Did the Dowager Queen ask you to stay?"

    "Of course, she did. Onyx's father also did. But somehow, Onyx did not agree. Slightly threatened then by saying he was going to leave the dining room for us. Remember he rarely eats with us. His mother had no option. She didn't want to tell me to leave but I had to. I know she wants to dine with him and probably knock some sense into his head,"

    Theresa laughs. "And you think he's going to do as she says?"

    I shrug. "Maybe. Maybe not. I'm counting on the latter."

    "Onyx has been a stubborn man right from time. He never listens to anyone. Selah came into his life and worsened everything. I don't know how she manages to control him,"

    "She's manipulative. You should know that,"

    "Yeah, that's right. I hate her so much,"

    "Nobody likes her,"

    "Cherry and Onyx does. Well, they all have the same character,"

    Sighing, I dig into my food. "I'm really tired."

    "He hit you again?" Theresa says as she notices the red marks on her cheeks for the first time. "That bastard."

    "Shh!" I whisper. "Don't say such. Remember people are listening. Not everyone likes me and they'll do anything it takes to report you to the King. You'll be fired or worse, punished and I do not want that for you."

    Theresa looks around. Everyone seems to be less busy and some people have retired to their quarters. Just a few people are loitering about.

    Theresa turns her head to look back at me. "Everyone is almost gone. We can gossip as we want."

    "We're not gossiping, Theresa. We're just having a conversation."

    "I'll help you clean your cheek. The mark is swelling. Once you're done eating, I'll boil some water for you to clean it up, okay?"

    I nod and continue eating in silence. As soon as I am done, I drink water and wipe my mouth. "This food was delicious. Who prepared it?"

    "Serena," Theresa replies with an upturned nose. Theresa doesn't like Serena and that's because the other lady can be really annoying and nosy at times. I don't think the lady is annoying. She's just someone who wants to be friends with Theresa and as the picky person she is, she finds it hard. 

    "You know she's a nice person, right?"

    Theresa pushes back her chair and rolls her eyes. "Indeed. She talks a lot and is always in my space and I find it absolutely annoying. You know how I am."

    I watch as she walks to the sink to drop the plates. She picks up a kettle and fills it with water before setting it on the cooker. When she returns, she takes a seat.

    "You know, Earl would have been the right guy for you? He's very nice and I think you deserve him more than Onyx. In Fact Onyx should worship the floor you walk on. I just hope you take revenge at the right time, Hazel,"

    "I honestly don't know how to do that," I mutter. "I feel like I am trapped in this marriage. I can't leave it or be happy in it. I can't break out. If I do, he'd probably kill me.".

    "Why? He's going to be happy! Finally, he can end up with that bitch called Serena,"

    I laugh and shake my head. Theresa doesn't seem to understand. "That's where the problem comes in. He can't send me away. He would have done that a long time ago. I am important in his life and if I leave, his Alpha-ship would be relinquished. He's only keeping me because he needs be to keep being the Alpha,"

    It dawns on Theresa and that's when she begins to nod her head in understanding. "I totally get you now, Hazel," Then she frowns in anger. "That's absolutely selfish. He's being a parasite to you and you don't know!"

    I heave a tired sigh. "There's nothing I can do and you know that, right?"

    

   ARYA'S POV;

    

    I am almost in tears when Onyx walks away from the dining table. My husband looks at me and takes a hold of my hand. 

    "Don't worry about it, Honey. Onyx will come back to his senses real soon and he'd regret his actions."

    "I don't think so," I say and turn my face to the other side. "Look at how he's drastically changed. Selah keeps coming here and we don't have full authority over what's going on here and you know that, right?"

    "It doesn't matter. He's going to suffer for his actions one way or the other. Don't bother about it."

    "We have to get you to your room and he just walked away without looking back. He has always been the one taking care of himself. Why the sudden change?!"

    "Calm down, Arya!" My husband reprimands but I do not listen to him. 

    "I can't! I can't calm down when my son is acting like a fucking fugitive. He used to be a good boy. Why did he change suddenly? Why!"

    My husband sighs. 

    "He's been treating Hazel like shit since she came in here. He has never treated her like a fucking human. All he does is hit her. We did not train him to do that!"

    "Like I said, time will tell," My husband says. "Go get me a guard to take me up to my chambers. I want to lay on my bed so bad,"

    Just as my husband makes that statement, a guard comes into the dining room and bows. "Your royal highnesses."

    "Why are you here?" I ask.

    "Alpha Onyx asked that I take the King up to his room,"

    "Alright, take him there. Make sure you're careful with him, okay?"

    "Yes, my Queen. Your wish is my command."

    As soon as they are gone, I sit down at the dining table for a while before standing on my feet and going upwards to my room. 

    As I pass by the corridor, I stop in front of Cherry's room. I haven't seen her in days. I should really do that now, before going to bed. 

    She's asleep when I open the door. I shut it quietly so I don't wake her up. 

    There's a chair beside her bed so I take a seat and watch her for a long time before taking her hands in mine. 

    Her eyes flutter open and when she sees me, there's a look of recognition in there. "Mother, you're here,"

    I smile happily. "Yes, my princess. I haven't seen you in a couple of days and I'm missing you so much. You don't know how much,"

    Cherry smiles with difficulty. Her lips are dry so I lean over to her bedside table to grab her lip chap. Gently, I glide it over her mouth and she smacks her lips slowly. "I've missed you. I've missed father and Also Onyx. How is father's health coming?"

    "There are no improvements but he's still surviving. He hasn't been sick for a long time now."

    "I'm so happy," She replies. "How about Onyx? Selah?"

    At the mention of Selah, I feel my anger return. "Onyx is fine," I say quickly. "I don't know about Selah. You know I don't like that girl one bit."

    "You don't because of Hazel."

    "Can we talk about something else?" I smile, trying to distract her. I know she also doesn't like Hazel but I don't want her to say it out loud. It's going to really break me.

    Cherry nods. "How long am I going to be here for?"

    "The doctor says you have a few weeks so your cast can heal properly. You'll be on your feet in no time,"

    "I can't wait."

    I smile. "I have to go to bed. I woke you up from sleep and I'm starting to feel guilty for keeping you awake. Go back to sleep, okay?"

    Cherry nods and I bend over to kiss her on the cheek. "I love you, honey,"

    "I love you too, mum. Sleep tight."

    Nodding, I stand to my feet and slip out of her room while shutting it gently and as I begin walking to my room, tears slip down my cheeks. I haven't cried in a long time but Onyx and everything happening around me have combined to make me a teary mess. 

    There's nothing I can do to solve this whole saga. I only have to wait and see how things turn out.