Ronald was shocked. He thought that Hazel had broken up with Joshua out of the blue because of something that happened in their relationship, but she had done it for them?
Because she didn't want them to be involved in some kind of danger, so Hazel would instead let herself suffer?
Ronald was feeling awkward. It seemed that their family was deviously breaking up a couple, although it really seemed to be true.
"Is he so good?" Ronald asked with some jealousy.
"The one I picked... of course..." Hazel whispered in a confused voice.
Ronald helps her back to their temporary home. He quietly pushed the door open and turned on the light, and he jumped when he saw that Harry and Rachel were waiting with disappointed expressions.
"Dad, Mom." Ronald was helpless, "I told you we would be back late, right?"
Rachel looked at Hazel, leaning on the wall, and said in a harsh tone, "You dare to let her get drunk like this?"
"How would I know she would get drunk with beer." Ronald was a little embarrassed.
"Where did you go?" Harry asked unhappily.
Hearing the familiar voices, Hazel opened her eyes in confusion. She said gladly, "We... fought people! Beating the hell out of them, it was really cool! Ha-ha..."
"You actually took Hazel to fight!" Seeing Rachel was trying to slap him, Ronald immediately hid far away.
"...I just took her to the classmate's birthday party," Ronald explained. If their parents knew that he deliberately got Hazel drunk and she provoked a group of gangsters for his sake, they would probably break his legs.
"Tell the truth!" Harry said seriously.
"Mom, help get Hazel in her bedroom first." Ronald sighed. Now he had to confess to his parents.
Rachel glared at him and helped move Hazel to her room.
Hazel was in bed, and Rachel covered her with the quilt. She also poured a cup of water and placed the cup on the table next to the bed.
When she was about to leave, her eyes suddenly fell on Hazel's face.
A tear fell from Hazel's cheek, her brows furrowed. Hazel looked very sad.
Seeing that she seemed to be whispering something, Rachel hesitated and leaned down.
"Joshua..." She was calling Joshua's name.
Rachel was stunned. She looked at Hazel with a complicated expression. The breakup with Joshua was making Hazel so sad?
She gently wiped the tears from Hazel's eyes, turned off the lights in the room, and snuck out.
Rachel returned to the living room, and Ronald told them truthfully what happened. He failed to mention the reason why Hazel broke up with Joshua.
Rachel sighed, "Hazel is at the age that she is longing for love. If Joshua continues to complicate the situation, I am terrified that she will do something stupid."
"I am also worried." Ronald frowned, "Dad, Mom, let's go back to City S as soon as possible. The sooner, the better."
Harry and Rachel glanced at each other, and they nodded.
***
When Hazel woke up, she had a headache. She rubbed her temples, and the intermittent memories came to her mind. She remembered that there seemed to be a fight last night, and later... she seemed to have met Joshua?
How could that be possible?
Hazel lowered her eyes. Joshua said he would not appear in front of her again. It must have been her imagination.
After she finished washing, she went downstairs and saw her parents and brother waiting for her. Hazel was terrified that they were going to interrogate her about her drinking.
"Hazel, sit down." Rachel said softly, "We have something to say to you."
She swiftly bowed her head and took the initiative to admit her mistake.
"I am wrong! I should not have drunk!"
"... okay, just pay more attention in the future." Rachel said, "Eat first."
Hazel took the fork suspiciously. What did they want to say?
Harry said, "Hazel, we have completed our business here. After finishing your meal, you can pack up your things. We are leaving this afternoon."
The sudden news made Hazel's heart tremble, and the fork in her hand fell to the table.
Although she had known that they would leave the Imperial City sooner or later, Hazel felt that she was not prepared when it was time to go.
If she left like this, she would probably never see Joshua again.
"Okay..." Hazel answered in a depressed tone.
After breakfast, Harry and Rachel went out, and Ronald was invited out by his classmates. They wanted to say goodbye before he left. Ronald did not take Hazel, so she started packing her things.
Because of the hangover, her head was still aching. She simply laid down on her bed and slept for a while. She did not sleep well, though, and she woke up feeling exhausted.
Chaotic scenes had been flashing in her brain. She dreamt about the future, it was a few decades after she and Joshua broke up. She was walking down the street when Joshua's car passed by but he did not see her and the car just drove past.
Hazel subconsciously ran after the car for a long time, and she saw the car finally stop. Joshua got out of the vehicle. He was still so handsome, and he hadn't aged a day.
He looked back at her. His eyes seemed so desperate, sad, and heartbreaking. Hazel felt there was a massive weight on her c.h.e.s.t. He turned and left. She wanted to catch up, but for some reason, she could not move.
A group of onlookers gathered around her, whispering to one another.
"Have you heard that? Joshua has never been married. It is said that when he was young, he was hurt by a cruel woman, so he decided to stay lonely until he was old..."
"Ah-!" Hazel screamed and suddenly woke up.
She gasped with her mouth wide open, reached out, touched her forehead, and there was a layer of cold sweat on it.
What the Hell? She actually dreamed that Joshua was getting old alone for her sake?
How terrible!
No, she never hoped Joshua should stay single. She hoped that even if she were not with Joshua, he would meet someone he liked again in the future, then get married and have children.