"Tell me, WHERE ARE YOU NOW?!"

Hazel could hear Maverick's anger in his voice and the rush of his breath, even over the phone. It was clear that he was not in a good mood, and she could only imagine the fierce expression on his face.

But instead of being scared, Hazel smiled.

"You finally called me," she said, sounding so calm, as if Maverick's anger hadn't affected her. "It's been six days since I left home, but it seems like you just noticed I was gone."

"That's not funny at all, Hazel! How could you leave with divorce papers?" Maverick's voice was lower than before, but he couldn't hide his burning anger.

"Of course, it's not funny. I'm not joking. I'm serious about divorcing you," Hazel said defiantly.

She heard Maverick's long sigh, which made her think how hard Maverick was holding back his emotions before he repeated his question in a low, threatening voice, "Tell me where you are now, Hazel!"

"That's none of your business!" Unconcerned by Maverick's attempt, Hazel gave a snappy reply that had the potential to provoke him again. "My lawyer will handle the divorce, so I don't need to see you again. Let's end things here. Goodbye, Mr. Blake!"

Hazel hung up immediately after saying what she wanted to say to Maverick. And just a second later, her tears were flowing. She was crying, devastated by her own decision.

Maverick was Hazel's first love, the love she cherished the most. So when her family set her up with Maverick, she eagerly accepted, believing it was a dream come true. But Maverick saw their marriage differently. To him, their marriage is just a strategic alliance to strengthen the family business empire without the love Hazel craves. Despite his expectations, Maverick never tried to cultivate affection between them.

Since her marriage to Maverick lasts forever, Hazel tells herself to be patient because she has a lifetime to make him love her back. But in reality, even though they lived under the same roof and saw each other every day, Maverick seemed too far away for her to reach out.

He had his own room on the second floor, which was off-limits to Hazel. He always ignored the breakfast she made and came home late at night without even saying hello to her, who waited for him all day. His business trips were often unannounced and lasted anywhere from a few days to weeks, leaving Hazel to deal with her worries alone.

Maverick is so cold and untouchable, and his painful neglect leaves Hazel without the confidence to live the rest of her life as his wife. It's only been two years, not a long time, but it feels worse than the 25 years she's lived.

And Hazel decides to give up when she finally comes to terms with the fact that Maverick is unlikely to return her feelings no matter how long they've been together–leaving Maverick with her broken heart still in his grasp.

***

"Alone?"

Tired of spending her time alone in the hotel room she had been staying in after leaving Maverick's house six days ago, Hazel went to the club downstairs to have a drink. She had no idea how much she had drunk, but now her head was spinning as she looked at the man sitting next to her.

"Yeah, I'm alone," Hazel said. "I just wanted a drink."

"Care for a drink?" he asked, suggestively raising his eyebrows as he draped an arm over Hazel's shoulders. Hazel, already dizzy from alcohol, allowed her head to fall against his chest, unable to support her weight.

"Looks like you're already pretty drunk." He moved his face closer to Hazel, so close that he could feel her breath. "Want to go to my room?"

"Hmm..." Hazel sighed and closed her eyes as he gently touched her face. The cold hand felt so good touching her hot body, making her crave it.

"Feeling hot, babe?" he whispered. "Let me– Aargh!"

The man's words were abruptly cut off by a hard punch to his face, causing Hazel to jump and open her eyes in alarm. Through her blurred vision, she saw someone hitting the man who had just hugged her.

She held her head, trying to fight the dizziness and help the man who was being beaten so badly.

"Stop it!" Hazel shouted at the man, her voice hoarse. "What are you doing?!"

The man's movements stopped, and he turned to face Hazel. Hazel looked up at him and was shocked to see a familiar face.

It was Maverick Blake, her husband!

Maverick left the man, who lay battered and broken, and made his way to where Hazel stood. As he approached her, his eyes gleamed with an intensity that belied the chaos he had just unleashed. Sensing danger, Hazel backed away until her back hit the bar and couldn't go any further.

Maverick stood before her, dark eyes piercing her soul with a predatory hunger that sent a shiver through Hazel's body. Like a ravenous beast ready to devour its prey, he radiated a dangerous aura that enveloped the air around them in tension and fear. And Hazel, his helpless prey, could only stand there terrified, not knowing what to do.

"What do you think you're doing?" Maverick hissed as he moved closer to the trembling Hazel. The dark aura Maverick exuded was like an alarm that woke her from her drunkenness and made her stand in front of him with immense fear.

"It's none of your business!" Hazel forced out in a quavering voice, mustering all the courage she had left in a futile attempt to stand up to the man she was about to divorce.

"You left home and left me divorce papers, just for this? Just to give your body to some random guy you met in a club?" The question was a growl. Then he tugged at the left corner of his lips and gave Hazel a mocking smirk as he added, "I never knew the illustrious Wright family could produce such a promiscuous daughter."

Maverick's words were so cruel that Hazel didn't think twice about raising her hand and delivering a hard slap to his left cheek. Hazel's chest heaved as ragged breaths escaped her lips, her teary eyes boring into Maverick's, livid with pain and betrayal. His angular cheekbone bore a scarlet mark where her sharp nails had raked against his skin.

"Shut your mouth, dammit! Shut your mouth!" Hazel hissed, gritting her teeth to keep her tears from falling in front of Maverick. "Who do you think made me like this?"

"So it's my fault you turned into a b*tch?" Maverick replied as he grabbed Hazel's waist with his left hand, making her eyes widen at his unexpected move. "Then I'll take responsibility for what I did!"

Hazel was still reeling from what Maverick had just said when he suddenly grabbed her neck and pressed his lips against hers, catching her completely off guard. The kiss was intense and passionate, leaving her breathless and confused.

For two years, Hazel had relived their first kiss at the wedding in her mind. Now, with Maverick's lips against hers again, she was caught completely off-guard. The kiss she had yearned for had finally arrived, but instead of joy, she felt a swell of rebellion rise within her. She wanted this, but not like this. She used both hands to push Maverick away as he kissed her even more wildly.