Chapter 297 - Did Someone Bullied You?

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The three of them boarded into the vehicle and Edith sat at the back to accompany Hazel. The little girl continued to bury her face in her embrace and did not want to let go. 

Their heart ached as the sound of Hazel's crying filled the vehicle.

Neil was driving and could not help to glance through the rear mirror to look at the little girl with worry. In the end, he pulled over the vehicle at a safe place and waited for Hazel to calm down.

A while later, Hazel's crying gradually died out, but she kept on holding on to Edith tightly. 

At the thought that Hazel might have fallen asleep, Edith lifted her to sit on her thigh. The little girl did not resist and obediently raised her head. 

Seeing the tears hanging on the little girl's eyelashes, Edith took out a clean handkerchief and wiped her tears. The little girl's face and nose reddened and Edith pulled her into his embrace, coaxing her.

Hazel seemed a little calmer after she had cried her heart out, but she was still a little embarrassed that she had cried out loudly. It felt as if it has been a long time since she had cried out because she was missing her parents.

Her uncle would often bring her over to the cemetery to visit them, but the feeling was not the same as seeing them face-to-face. At this time, she was really missing her mother's warm embrace and her soft voice.

These days, she has become accustomed to living with her uncle and Auntie Edith. The two of them had spoiled and cared for her. Hazel thought that she has been living very well with them.

At the same time, Hazel was a little worried that she might soon forget about her parents. If she did not peek at their picture for one day, Hazel was afraid that she might as well forget how her parents might look like.

As the thought came to her mind, Hazel tightened her grip on Edith and laid her head on her auntie's chest.

"Auntie Edith." Hazel paused and to take a deep breath. "I'm fine."

"Un. I know." Edith continued to hug her tightly, giving her a sense of security. "But I just want to hug you a little longer, is that alright?"

Hazel nodded and obediently stayed in her auntie's embrace.

Edith raised her head to look at Neil and heaved a helpless sigh. Neil received signaled from his wife and started to drive back home.

It was Hazel's birthday and most girls her age would have a grand birthday party surrounded by their friends. However, the Mo family did not think that Hazel would be in a celebratory mood at this time. 

Other than making her a bowl of longevity noodles for her breakfast, Sophie did not know if they could do anything else to celebrate the little girl's birthday.

"Hazel?" Edith called after a long silence. Her hands rubbed at her back in a circular motion to make her feel calmer.

"Un?"

"It's your birthday today." Her voice was soft as she spoke next to her ear. "Is there anything you want to do?" 

A frown appeared on Edith's face when Hazel did not answer. At the thought that the little girl was still not in her mood to do anything, Edith heaved a sigh and decided not to push her in this matter.

"I want to eat chicken wings."

Edith did a double-take when she heard the voice. She lowered her gaze and saw that the little girl was staring at her. 

"Papa always buys me chicken wings on my birthday," Hazel said. "It's a special day so, I am allowed to eat fast-food."

Her lips curled into a soft smile. Edith lowered to peck at Hazel's cheek and looked up at the rear mirror to meet her husband's eyes. "Alright. Let's tell your uncle to buy you some chicken wings on our way back home." 

…

When they arrived home in the afternoon, the three of them noticed that the house was a little livelier. Edith walked into the house and was surprised to see that Lily was talking with her mother-in-law in the living room.

The little guy beside Lily jumped off from the sofa and walked over towards Hazel excitedly. The moment Alex noticed Hazel's reddened eyes, his movement paused and suddenly, he was staring at Hazel in a dazed.

"Why are you here?" Edith asked Lily the moment she stepped into the room. 

"Alex heard our conversation the last time and knew that today is Hazel's birthday," Lily whispered. "Last night, he pestered his daddy to buy a present, and this morning, he told me that he wanted to visit Hazel. I didn't have the heart to decline." She turned to Hazel who was holding Neil's hand and noticed her crying face. "How is she?"

"Missing her parents," Edith said. 

Hazel lowered her head and went into the bathroom to clean-up. When she walked out with a clean face and fresh clothes, Hazel was stunned upon seeing that Alex was waiting for her outside. Knowing that her face was a little messy after crying, Hazel did not dare to look up and meet his gaze.

Sophie was helping Hazel to clean up in the bathroom. When she noticed that Alex was standing with a dazed expression, Sophie walked over to him and patted him on his shoulder. "Little boy, Hazel's uncle had bought some chicken wings. Come over with grandma and let's sit together and eat."

Alex looked up and nodded. He then watched as Sophie walked away before he went closer to Hazel. "Are you okay?" His face frowned as he studied Hazel's face. His hand stretched out to touch her face, but after a while, he paused and did not dare to touch her. 

"Un." Hazel did not look up when she nodded. 

"Hazel," Alex whispered her name. He scanned his surroundings and found that the grownups were gathered in the dining area. Seeing that they were not looking at them, Alex held on to Hazel's hand. "Did someone bullied you?"

"Ah?" Hazel blinked her eyes at him. "No."

Alex tilted his head sideways. "Then, why did you cry?"

Hazel lowered her gaze. "I didn't."

Alex opened his mouth to say something, but seeing the look on Hazel's face, Alex decided not to press on the matter.

"Come with me." Alex grabbed on Hazel's hand and tugged her towards the living area. He picked up the paper bags next to his mother's handbag and handed the bag to Hazel. "Hazel, happy birthday," Alex said. "I heard Auntie Edith mentioned this to my mother the other day." He thrust the paper bag forward. "This is for you."

The little girl stared at the bag with puzzlement. Just then, she felt Alex's hand patting her head. She met her gaze and saw that Alex was staring at her with a conflicted gaze.

"Hazel... Don't cry, alright?"

Hazel stared back at her friend, flustered. "I'm not."

"Okay.. If you say that you're not, then, you're not."

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