Chapter 76 - Who Will Apologize?

"Fine! But did not make a ruckus again!" he chided and turned when he heard the voice he thought could never be hear again,

"Are you going without meeting me, father?" Hazel stood up and looked at her father with the same sweet smile on her face. She knew that her mother was the weakest and could be fooled easily but the same could not be said about her father who was cunning like a fox.

A flash of shock passed George's eye when his eyes met Hazel who was standing there fit and fine. But in the next second his eyes turned cold. He did not care what she had suffered through and how she was alive. All he knew was that he had faced a lot of insults because she disappeared suddenly.

"So you still have the audacity to come back when you have run from the house in the middle of the night?" he asked as he took a step towards hazel instead of going back.

Diana, who was afraid that George would know the truth if he would discuss it with Hazel and then she and Amelia might be in trouble, took a breath of relief when she heard the accusing voice of her husband!

Tears instantly formed in her eyes as she held the arms of her husband, "I am sorry that I was trying to hide her. I did not want you to be agitated and angry at her. We should forgive her since she was back. After all, she is our daughter too." 

She covered her face with her handkerchief as if she was too upset with everything, "but i can understand if you want to punish her, after all she had run away in the middle of the night and you have to suffer a lot in the society because of her.

So, if you put her in the prison or throw her out of the house then i will not go against you.'' With that her silent cries turned into audible sobs and a stream of tears started to come out from them as if she was too heartbroken and could not say a word.

Hazel looked at her acting more with pride. She always knew that Amelia was good at acting and her mother was weak, but today mother had surpassed her daughter. What a gut wrenching performance!

She wanted to clap for her extraordinary performance but now it was the turn to check other performances too. Like a judge of the drama company she continued to stand there silently while looking at the other clowns who were going to perform for her.

"Hello father, it has been a long time!" she smiled brightly as if she was too happy to see them all. But she continued to stand there with no initiative to take even a step towards them.

"Ha! You still have the guts to speak? Did you not hear your mother? You are nothing but disgrace to our family since I have now kneel and apologize so that I can think how shall I punish you!" he replied in a cold and authoritative voice. 

He was sure that since she had returned back after running away, it only meant that she did not have another place to go. She needed the money and luxury their palace provided her.

And for that, she would do anything. So, he would not let the chance go to gain his lost reputation and image. 

He did not care who was at fault, all he cared about was his name and for that if he had to punish Hazel, he would do it without any remorse.

He looked at hazel with a pressurizing aura and fierce look in his eyes but contrasting to his expectations, the girl did not move even an inch.

She continued to stand there with the same smile on her face as if she was mocking the clowns.

Amelia who was standing there with shocked eyes and pale face when her eyes fell on hazel finally came back to her senses. She took the time of argument to control her emotions and hatred in her eyes and then assessed hazel.

She was looking different. Hazel had always dressed poorly and most of the time, she had been locked up in her room, so she did not have any etiquette. 

All she knew was reading and singing. She even had trouble communicating with people. She often spoke foolishly and talk about dumb things. That was why she had a meek personality.

But the girl in front of her was standing there with arrogance. Her face had confidence and her eyes were cold. She did not look like Hazel at all. She had a charming face and noble aura that Hazel lacked.

Her eyes filled with hatred when her eyes fell on the expensive and luxurious dress Hazel was wearing and so as the jewels on her body. A single piece of them was more expensive than her best jewel, her hands clenched into fist. Hazel was like a disease, no matter what she did to get rid of her, but she had always returned with more vigor and intensity.

"Father, do not be that angry with your sister. She would surely have a reason to run away. Were you not forcing her to marry against her will? If only you would have given her the chance to choose her lover. Then she would not have taken this step." she asked in an aggrieved tone as if she was too worried about Hazel and was ready to face anything to support her.

"Sister, what are you waiting for? Come here and kneel in front of my father. He is a kind person. He will forgive you if you repent on your mistakes!" she urged hazel to come forward in a scared voice as if she was afraid that her father would be further angry when hazel chuckled.

"Are you sure it was my mistake, sister?"

"............"