Simon had a very bad relationship with Ted. Even in Simon's mind, Ted's image had almost been demonized.
He would never forget how cruelly Ted treated his uncle's family. Simon would not have hated Ted so much if Simon had not seen Ted's reckless means.
Joshua fell into the hands of Ted. After such a long period of time, Joshua did not contact them and even abandoned Hazel, who was pregnant. Hence, Simon could only think that Joshua had been coerced by Ted, and what Joshua did now was not Joshua's original intention.
"So, what should we do now?" C.h.e.s.ter asked anxiously.
"Let's look for Hazel first," Simon said in a deep tone. "Whatever it is, let's find Hazel first. Maybe we can also save Joshua."
Although Madeline suggested they exchange hostages, Simon didn't want to do that unless he had to.
C.h.e.s.ter agreed. He did as Simon ordered and continued to search for Hazel.
Elsewhere, Hazel felt a little sleepy due to Joshua's pestering.
Joshua didn't do anything outrageous to her. He just asked her to listen to some prenatal music. He also worried that she was tired, so he gave her a massage. However, he was unwilling to untie her hand and take away the white cloth covering her eyes.
Hazel was very wary of him, but she was also very helpless because…she couldn't resist his tenderness. At such times she felt a sense of panic as if she had betrayed Joshua.
"Are you sleepy?" Joshua whispered, "If you're sleepy, go to bed early. Pregnant women are easily lethargic and need plenty of sleep."
"I'm not sleepy!" she said hurriedly. Who knew what Joshua would do to her if she fell asleep?
"Stop struggling," Joshua frowned slightly. He said in a deep tone as if he had guessed what she was worried about, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to you."
How could Hazel believe him? She shook her head firmly. "I'm not sleepy!"
"Alright then. Shall I read you a bedtime story?" He said, his tone soft and doting.
Hazel was in a daze and said yes subconsciously. The man was so much like Joshua that she couldn't resist him at all.
Joshua adjusted her pillow and put her in a more comfortable position. Then he lay down beside her, chose a bedtime story, and directly read it.
His voice was like a cello, deep and sweet. It was clear that he was reading a very childish fairy tale, but it had extraordinary magic power when he read it.
"Childish." She yawned. "What's so funny about The Ugly Duckling? It can become a white swan, not because it works hard, but because it is a white swan, to begin with. It's not an inspirational story at all. It just makes people who listen to it more despairing."
"..." Joshua was speechless. It was just a story, but why did she have so many strange thoughts? He laid his hand lightly on her belly. "I'm reading for the baby."
Hazel yawned sleepily again, leaning toward him despite herself. "My baby doesn't like this kind of story... Besides, it's not your baby. You needn't worry about it…."
Her voice gradually faded away. It seemed that she was really unable to endure the drowsiness, so she fell asleep.
Joshua couldn't help giving a wry smile.
Yeah, this was not his baby, but strangely, he did not reject nor hate it at all, and he was even afraid that it would have an accident.
Joshua even wondered if he was crazy. Obviously, the baby had nothing to do with him, but why was he nervous?
"Hazel?" He called her name softly.
She mumbled as she continued to lean into his arms. This c.h.e.s.t was so warm, so familiar to her...
Joshua had a soft look in his eyes, and he gently untied the strips of cloth that had bound her hands. Looking at the red marks on her wrists, he, who felt sorry, held out his hands to rub her wrists gently.
"Looks like I' d better not tie her hands anymore," he thought. If she wanted to see his face, that was fine. Although he looked like Simon, they were not identical.
"Hmm..." Hazel grunted but didn't wake up.
After he finished rubbing her wrists, he saw she was sleeping soundly. His fingers quivered, and he took the cloth off her eyes despite himself.
Why did he feel so familiar with her eyes?
His fingers stroked her face slightly, c.a.r.e.s.sing her eyes and brows.
"No, it itches..." Hazel let out a murmur in her sleep. She stretched out her hands feebly, trying to push his hands away.
But her misty eyes opened before she could push his hands away.
They both eyed each other, and the atmosphere in the whole room became quietly weird instantly.
She looked at the person in front of her with sleepy eyes. Was she dreaming again?
Tears came out of her eyes despite herself. She couldn't help stretching out her arms and hugged him tightly. "My dear husband, honey, I miss you so much..."
"I'm not..." Joshua's face darkened slightly. The last thing he wanted to see still happened; Hazel thought he was Simon as expected.
"Yes, you are!" She mumbled stubbornly as she held him more tightly. Suddenly, she looked at Joshua's face in a daze and kissed his lips boldly.
The sweet, soft-touch ignited Joshua's whole body, and he kissed her back heavily.
Hazel had never had such a real dream. Joshua's face, aura, and kiss were all the same as those in her memory.
She closed her eyes gently, but tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes despite herself. If it was a dream, she hoped the dream could last longer.
Sensing her tears, Joshua gently let go of her.
But Hazel's next move was even bolder. She rolled over and sat directly on Joshua. Her tender hands eagerly undressed him. She must hurry up, or she would wake up from the dream. She must remember everything about him.
All of a sudden, he grabbed her hands. He looked at her in disbelief. "Hazel Crowe, are you sure? I am not your husband…."
"You are! You are!" She bit his lips with exasperation. "How could I mistake my husband?"
Her little hands moved playfully over him, finding his s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e spots expertly.
"Hmm..." His eyes turned red. At this moment, he did not want to stand it anymore.